Ghana's experience, according to Asamoah Gyan helped them to a 2-0 quarter-final victory over Cape Verde at the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.

Although the Blue Sharks had lots of possession to Ghana especially in the second half in Port Elizabeth, the Black Stars were sharper when it mattered.

Substitute Mubarak Wakaso hit two goals in the second half, once from the penalty spot, as Ghana clinched a semi-final meeting with either Burkina Faso or Togo.

“The first half was a bit frustrating,” Gyan said after the match.

“We couldn’t go through their defence. But what made the difference in our victory, was the penalty. When we scored, the game became opened.

“Although in the second half they dominated, we stood firm. We have experience and we kept our composure and in the late stages, we scored our second goal.”

The win ended the dreams of the competition's debutants reaching the semi-finals with Gyan saying, it's only results that matter in competitions.

“In tournaments, it’s about you winning and qualifying to the next stage of the competition.

“Especially in the quarter-final, when you lose a game, then you are out of the competition,” the Ghana captain said.

But Gyan is confident that Cape Verde, though eliminated will return home with their heads held high and their reputation enhanced.

Gyan said: “I would want to congratulate the Cape Verde team. I respect them a lot.

“They’ve really come so far and I think with the kind of game that they are playing, in the next few years, they will improve their type of play.”