Ghana and Mali were off to a winning start in the Africa Cup of Nations by edging Botswana and Guinea by the one-goal margin. Favorites Ghana needed a scruffy goal from captain John Mensah to down outsiders Botswana as the goal-hero received a straight red card for a professional foul later. In Franceville, Bakaye Traore scored the only goal to give Mali's Eagles a victory over Guinea's Syli Nationale.