AFRICAN NATIONS CUP: Ghana 1 Nigeria 0:ASAMOAH GYAN scored the only goal to help a well-organised Ghana book their place in the Africa Cup of Nations final with a battling victory over regional rivals Nigeria.
The only goal came midway through the first half when a Kwadwo Asamoah corner caught out the napping Nigerian defence and the in-form Rennes striker applied the finishing touch.
It was one-way traffic thereafter as wasteful finishing from their opponents, coupled with some dogged defending and some especially solid goalkeeping from Wigan goalkeeper Richard Kingston, helped the four-time former winners seal a place in the final for the first time since 1992.
They will now face either Egypt or Algeria in Sunday’s final.
Milovan Rajevac’s team, without more than five of their regular players through injury, were cautious throughout the 90 minutes, though.
Nigeria were guilty of some poor finishing with Obafemi Martins, making his first start in the competition, one of the main culprits. He almost handed his side the perfect start after playing a neat one-two with Peter Odemwingie, but defender Hans Sarpei did just enough to put the Wolfsburg striker off his stride.
After the fast start, the pace then slowed as Ghana struggled to force their way into the game against their more experienced opponents.
However, they stunned Nigeria into silence in the 21st minute with a goal that came completely against the run of play – Gyan’s run to the near post catching the defenders off guard as he met Asamoah’s corner with a powerful headed finish.
The Rennes striker almost doubled the advantage shortly after with a cleverly attempted 20-yard lob that flew inches over Vincent Enyeama’s goal.
Martins had the best opening for his side after 29 minutes when Odemwingie’s shot from outside the box deflected into his path, but the final 12-yard shot was too close to goalkeeper Kingston, who pushed the the ball wide.
The Lokomotiv Moscow forward should then have done better after finding himself with a free six-yard header created by Uwa Echiejile’s pinpoint pass from the left, which was nodded wide.
And Odemwingie was guilty of another wasted chance on the stroke of half-time when the ball came to him inside the box, but was mishit woefully off target.
Nigeria almost gifted an equaliser after the break when Odemwingie’s attempted pass was almost deflected into his own goal by Lee Addy, but for the intervention of Kingston.
They continued to press but failed to make the most of half-chances with Chinedu Obasi and John Obi Mikel both coming close through half-chances, before Martins missed another excellent chance when Kingston’s right hand this time came to Ghana’s rescue.
With 20 minutes to go, Amodu decided to throw in Yakubu Aiyegbeni who quickly skied a good chance into the crowd.
Martins again found himself in on goal seconds later, but for third time in the game the real chance went before it actually came.
Nigeria tried desperately to draw level, but it was not to be – the best chance of the closing stages coming when Sani Kaita fired wide – as Ghana claimed the bragging rights from west Africa.
GHANA:Kingson; Addy, Inkoom, Sarpei (Ayew 54), Vorsah; Agyemang-Badu, Ayew, Opoku ( Draman 29), Asamoah, Annan; Gyan (Amoah 84).
NIGERIA:Enyeama, Mohammed (Odiah 80) Shittu, Echiejile, Nwaneri; Obi Mikel, Ayila (Nsofor 67), Kaita; Odemwingie (Yakubu 73), Martins, Obasi.
Referee:Daniel Bennett (South Africa).
