Ghana missed the chance of playing at the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after losing 3-2 on penalties to Burkina Faso at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Wednesday.

After finishing 120 minutes of an entertaining football match which ended 1-1, the game was decided through the lottery of penalties as the Black Stars failed to find their spot.

It was a difficult night for the Black Stars who were forced into an early substitution in the 6th minute when experienced right-back John Paintsil pulled a muscle.

Ghana took the lead through a Mubarak Wakaso finish from a penalty in the 13th minute with the attacker grabbing his fourth goal and third from a penalty kick at the Nations Cup.

On the hour mark, the Stallions equalised through Aristide Bance after Ghana lost possession in a dangerous area.

Solomon Asante should have made it 2-0 for the Black Stars in the 30th minute. Kwadwo Asamoah pulled the ball back after great work down the left and Nations Cup debutant saw his shot from close range deflect of an opponent for corner.

Goalkeeper Fatau Dauda made his first most important save on the night in the 52nd minute when he clawed out Bance’s header from under the crossbar from a corner kick.

Asamoah Gyan could have doubled the lead for the Black Stars on 58 minutes when he side-footed Christian Atsu's cross on the run but his effort came back off the post.

In extra-time, Ghana reeled under pressure in the second half of extra time and it had to take a Harrison Afful clearance off the line to keep the scoreline at 1-1 after 111 minutes.

But with three minutes of play remaining, Jonathan Pitroipa was sent off for simulation after the Stallions danger-man dived in the Ghana box.

In the shoot-out, Isaac Vorsah missed Ghana's first kick as Emmanuel Clottey and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu both missed as well.

The Black Stars will now meet Mali in the third-place fixture on Saturday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.