Equatorial Guinea, ranked 118th in the world by FIFA, were named as late replacement hosts for Morocco and upset the odds to reach the knockout stages.
They did so again in a controversial quarter-final triumph over Tunisia, but four-time champions Ghana proved too tough an obstacle as emotions reached an unsavoury boiling point in the stands.
Mubarak Wakaso doubled the advantage in the closing moment of the first half before Avram Grant's team had to be shielded by police from objects thrown from the crowd as they left the field.
The game had started with Equatorial Guinea looking to impress, semi-final hero Javier Balboa going close before the attacker's free-kick presented captain Emilio Nsue with a chance which he could not convert.
The hosts were offered further encouragement when Wakaso was muscled off the ball by Iban – only for referee Eric Arnaud Otogo-Castane to halt his charge towards goal by awarding a free-kick to spare the Ghana midfielder.
Ovono thwarted a number of first-half attacks by charging quickly from his line but the goalkeeper's ambition got the better of him as he clattered into Appiah on the end of Christian Atsu's measured throughball.
Andre Ayew sent Atsu charging clear on the break down the left channel and he cut the ball back for Wakaso to calmly take a touch and drill a low finish - unfortunately Ghana's exit from the field would not be so straightforward.
The goal signalled the end of a memorable run by Esteban Becker's team but sparked further anger on the field, which saw the game severely delayed.
Ghana's players remained calm throughout and were able to celebrate after playing out a token three minutes upon the game's resumption to seal their final place.
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