African Cup of Nations Quarter-final/ Ghana 2 Nigeria 1: Junior Agogo's goal seven minutes from time sealed a dramatic victory for 10-man Ghana over Nigeria in a nerve-jangling quarter-final at the African Cup of Nations last night.
The Black Stars had not beaten their West African rivals in a competitive fixture for 16 years, and the jinx had looked set to continue when they lost their captain John Mensah to a red card on the hour with the scores level at one apiece.
The Super Eagles failed to make their numerical advantage count, however, and Ghana were rewarded for their fabulous spirit when Nottingham Forest striker Agogo turned home Sulley Muntari's low, left-sided cross from close range. The strike sparked euphoric scenes in the Ohene Djan stadium in Accra, and the celebrations looked sure to continue long into the night.
Ghanaians like nothing more than putting one over Nigeria, but, aside from a 4-1 friendly win in Brentford last year, their recent record is abysmal. The hosts' determination was evident from the start. Muntari and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie both missed with long-range efforts before Gyan Asamoah had the first clear chance on 26 minutes, striking the outside of Austin Ejide's post after racing on to Michael Essien's pass.
The Ghanaian storm passed, though, and the Super Eagles slowly got a foothold in the game. Ghana centre backs Mensah and Eric Addo looked shaky when the skiful Ikechukwu Uche or the pacy Peter Odemwingie ran at them, and Uche might have done better than prod a tame shot straight at Richard Kingson having been picked out by Aiyegbeni Yakubu on the half hour.
Addo was then fortunate to win a free-kick after Yakubu had brushed him aside, but the PSV Eindhoven defender panicked once too often and his next mistake was punished. Uche was pulled down after wriggling away from Addo, and Yakubu coolly stroked the resulting spot kick into the bottom corner.
The home fans could have been forgiven for fearing the worst, but in Essien they possess a man who never knows when he is beaten. The Chelsea midfielder duly brought Ghana level on the stroke of half-time, heading Quincy's right-wing cross powerfully home off the inside of the post from 12 yards out.
Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson showed good agility in tipping Uche's 35-yard lob over the crossbar as Nigeria began the second period on the front foot.
Berti Vogts's men looked to have one foot in the semi-finals when Mensah denied Odemwingie a clear run on goal with a body-check and was rightly dismissed, but Ghana had other ideas. Kingson saved the subsequent free-kick from Taye Taiwo, showing strong wrists to keep out the full back's strike, then Ghana produced a rousing finish.
The stadium was up in arms when Agogo rifled a shot high and wide after turning cleverly past Joseph Yobo on 82 minutes, though their frustration turned to ecstasy in a matter of seconds. Thanks to Agogo's opportunism, Ghana's dream lives on. The winners of today's quarter-final between Cameroon and Tunisia await.
In last night's other quarter-final the Cote d'Ivoire beat Guinea 5-0.
GHANA: Kingson; Sarpei, Paintsil, Mensah, Addo; Annan, Essien, Muntari, Owusu Abeyie (Dramani, 74); Gyan (Kingston, 62), Agogo.
NIGERIA: Ejide; Yobo, Nwaneri, Shittu, Taiwo; Olofinjana, Mikel (Nsofor, 85), Uche, Etuhu (Eromoigbe, 71); Yakubu, Odemwingie.
Referee: Mohamed Benouza(Algeria).
