FOOTBALL Live

Sunday February 3, 2008 Finished Ohene Djan Stadium

Logo 2 - Logo 1

Ghana

  • Essien 45’
  • Agogo 83’

Nigeria

  • Aiyegbeni 35’
  1. African Cup of Nations - Agogo puts Ghana through

    African Cup of Nations - Agogo puts Ghana through

    Hosts Ghana survived the dismissal of captain John Mensah to reach the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations after a thrilling 2-1 victory over Nigeria in Accra. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Ghana
    • Nigeria
    • 90+3' The ball drops to Yobo inside the box, but he can't get his shot away! And the final whistle goes! The stadium erupts! 10-man Ghana go on to the semi-finals after a superb game of football.
    • 90+2' Annan brings down Eromoigbe 25 yards from the Ghana goal. Free-kick to Nigeria!
    • 90+1' Two minutes of injury time remain!
    • 90' Paintsil concedes a corner on the Nigeria left. Odemwingie crosses to the near post, Ghana head clear. Nwaneri crosses from the right, Ghana clear. The ball goes back into the box, Essien heads it back to Kingson but he can't prevent the corner! This corner, though, is disappointing. Ghana breathe again.
    • 89' Here come Nigeria! Shittu plays the ball across goal and Muntari acrobatically heads the ball clear!
    • 88' Laryea Kingston is really playing to the crowd on the far side of the pitch! The Nigerian fans won't take kindly to that kind of showboating, but it's great to watch.
    • 87' Odemwingie looks to beat Essien on the Nigeria right, but the Chelsea man stands his ground.
    • 86' And it's nearly three! Kingston shoots from the edge of the box and the ball whistles over the bar!
    • 85' A surprising change by Berti Vogts. Obi Mikel is replaced by Obinna Nsofor.
    • 84' Agogo is booked for an exuberant celebration, but you can't really blame him.
    • 83' GOAL! 2-1 Ghana! The 10 men take the lead! Muntari crosses low from close to the byline on the left and Agogo sidefoots the ball into the net from 2 yards!
    • 82' Chance for Ghana! Agogo brings down a long ball, turns Yobo and shoots with his left foot, but he doesn't catch it cleanly and it goes wide!
    • 80' It's all getting a bit niggly here now. Uche runs into an opponent and goes down clutching his face. 10 minutes to go!
    • 79' Kingston sweeps in a cross from the right and Ejide rises to pluck it from the air.
    • 78' Ghana on the attack! Dramani can't get a shot in from the left, nor can Muntari and Kingston's shot from the right-hand side of the box is blocked!
    • 77' Annan returns to the fray, and appears to have escaped without a caution. He's a lucky boy if that's the case.
    • 75' Oh dear! Obi Mikel catches Annan with a late challenge and the IK Start player reacts by thrusting a hand in his face! Obi Mikel makes a meal of it and is shown the yellow card. Annan goes to ground in similarly dramatic fashion, and goes off to receive 'treatment'.
    • 74' Agogo drives into the box on the left and crosses, but Nigeria clear. Owusu-Abeyie is replaced by Haminu Dramani.
    • 73' Ghana are about to make a change.
    • 72' Kingston crosses from the right, but there's only one white shirt in the box and Shittu has time to clear.
    • 71' Etuhu is replaced by Richard Eromoigbe.
    • 70' Kingston crosses from the left, but the cross is woefully over-hit.
    • 68' Dickson Etuhu goes down with what looks like cramp. He's bundled onto the electronic ambulance by some rather frantic-looking medical staff.
    • 65' Essien produces an important challenge to deny Yakubu. You can see the Chelsea man telling his team-mates to focus. They're up against it now.
    • 63' Agogo closes in on goal but Shittu produces an excellent, strong challenge to deny him!
    • 62' Ghana make an unsurprising defensive substitution. Gyan is replaced by Hearts midfielder Laryea Kingston. Essien drops back into the centre of defence.
    • 61' What a strike! Taiwo hammers in a left-footed shot from the resulting free-kick, and Kingson has to parry it away!
    • 59' John Mensah is off! The Ghana skipper takes Odemwingie down as he bears down on goal, and because he's the last man he has to go!
    • 58' Taiwo crosses from the left but it's over-hit and Uche can't get on the end of it.
    • 57' Muntari finds Gyan in space on the right, but a heavy touch from the Udinese striker results in a goal kick for Nigeria.
    • 56' It's all very cagey here at the moment. Both sides seem unwilling to take any risks.
    • 55' Gyan concedes a free-kick wide on the Ghana right.
    • 54' Ghana are starting to see a bit more of the ball now.
    • 53' Agogo curls in an inswinging cross from the Ghana left, but it's too close to Ejide.
    • 52' Odemwingie jinks his way into space before sending in a low shot that forces Kingson into a save!
    • 51' Ghana are sitting back at the start of this second period. Which side can seize the initiative here? A place in the semi-finals is at stake.
    • 50' Yakubu is penalised for a nudge on Mensah.
    • 48' Obi Mikel attempts to get on the end of Uche's poked through-ball, and the defenders get in a complete muddle before Kingson swoops on the ball! A nervy moment for Ghana.
    • 47' What a goal that would have been! Kingson comes to the edge of his box to head the ball clear, Yakubu attempts a lob from 45 yards and the Ghana 'keeper just gets back in time to tip the ball over! Wonderful effort from Yakubu.
    • 46' The second half begins!
    • 45+4' And the half-time whistle goes! Ghana were stunned by Yakubu's penalty, but Essien's equaliser on the stroke of half-time sets things up very nicely for the second half.
    • 45+3' GOAL! 1-1! Owusu-Abeyie crosses from the left and Essien rises to produce a thumping header that hits the base of the left-hand post before bouncing behind the line!
    • 45+2' Ghana seeing more of the ball now, but they can't fashion a shooting opportunity.
    • 45+1' There will be three minutes of injury time.
    • 45' The corner is cleared to the edge of the box, and Obi Mikel lashes the ball over the bar. Gyan is cautioned after a high challenge on Shittu.
    • 44' Obi Mikel finds Uche in space on the right, and his low cross is cut out at the near post by Addo with Yakubu lurking.
    • 43' Nigeria are looking much more comfortable in possession now.
    • 42' Uche with a great run down the right, but his attempted pass to Yakubu is acrobatically cleared by John Mensah!
    • 41' Ghana looking to hit back! Owusu-Abeyie comes infield from the right and scuttles a left-footed shot just wide of Ejide's left-hand post!
    • 40' Odemwingie appears to have won a corner off Paintsil on the Nigeria left, but the referee awards a goal kick, much to Odemwingie's disappointment.
    • 39' Odemwingie crosses from the left towards Yakubu, but Ghana manage to clear.
    • 38' Essien lines up a free-kick from fully 35 yards out, but he doesn't catch it properly and the ball goes well wide.
    • 36' Agogo catches Yobo in the face with a stray elbow. Free-kick to Nigeria.
    • 35' Yakubu steps up... AND SCORES! And it's a great penalty, low and hard to the 'keeper's right! Ghana look absolutely sutnned.
    • 34' PENALTY TO NIGERIA! Ghana can't believe it! Addo tugs Yakubu's shirt inside the box and the Everton man goes down!
    • 31' What a chance! Yakubu finds Uche bursting into the box but from 15 yards he toe-pokes his shot straight at the 'keeper!
    • 30' Yakubu out-muscles Eric Addo and is one-on-one with Kingson, but a free-kick is given.
    • 29' Agogo latches onto Muntari's through-ball and hares towards goal but he's penalised for a push on Danny Shittu inside the area.
    • 28' Anthony Annan shoots from distance, but despite a firm connection the shot is straight at Ejide.
    • 26' Agogo is through on goal! He latches onto Owusu-Abeyie's flick but over-runs the ball and sees his shot from a tight angle put behind by Ejide!
    • 25' Ghana hit the post! Essien releases Asamoah Gyan down the inside right channel and he takes the ball to the edge of the area before thumping a shot against the outside of the post!
    • 24' Paintsil crosses from the right but is off-balance as he hits the ball and it floats out for a goal kick.
    • 23' Obi Mikel runs into trouble in midfield, but Agogo's pass catches Owusu-Abeyie on his heels and the ball runs out for a throw-in on the Nigeria left.
    • 22' Great play from Owusu-Abeyie! He eludes a couple of challenges before surging goalwards, but a heavy touch allows the ball to run through to Ejide.
    • 21' Owusu-Abeyie cuts inside from the right and shoots left-footed, but the shot is always rising and clears the crossbar.
    • 20' Nigeria are trying to hold onto the ball as they seek to establish a foothold in the game.
    • 19' Nwaneri has to head the ball behind for another Ghana corner. But Owusu-Abeyie's delivery from the left is disappointing, and fails to beat the man at the front post.
    • 18' Nwaneri is booked for an untidy foul on Hans Adu Sarpei on the Ghana left. The free-kick is played to the back post but Nigeria manage to clear. The Black Stars are starting to apply some pressure here.
    • 17' Ejide stays down after that last intervention, but he'll be OK to continue.
    • 16' The corner is played to the back post and Ejide has to palm it behind for a corner! Muntari swings it in from the left, and Ejide has to push it away again!
    • 15' Chance for Ghana! Muntari holds off Nwaneri on the left, strides into the box and crosses, and Yobo has to put it behind from inside the six yard box!
    • 14' Muntari steps up... and crashes the ball into the wall!
    • 13' John Mikel Obi trips Junior Agogo. Free-kick to Ghana, about 30 yards from goal.
    • 12' Ike Uche finds Yakubu on the edge of the box, and he turns his man before dragging a left-footed shot wide! That was a good chance.
    • 10' Muntari tries to catch out Nigeria goal-keeper Austin Ejide at his near post from the free-kick, but the ball hits the side netting!
    • 9' Quincy Owusu-Abeyie tempts Taye Taiwo into a foul wide on the Ghana right. Taiwo is shown the yellow card.
    • 8' Yakubu concedes a free-kick for a push on Eric Addo inside the Ghana half.
    • 7' A tense start here. Nigeria have probably seen most of the ball so far.
    • 6' Hans Adu Sarpei cuts in from the Ghana left and shoots, but sees his shot blocked. The ball loops into the air on the edge of the box and Michael Essien crashes a volley over the bar!
    • 5' John Obi Mikel looks to play in Odemwingie, but there's just too much on the pass and it bounces through to Richard Kingson in the Ghana goal.
    • 4' Muntari is penalised for a foul on Everton's Joseph Yobo.
    • 3' Peter Odemwingie tangles with John Paintsil down the Nigeria left before lashing a shot wide, but the whistle had already gone for a foul.
    • 1' The first quarter-final is underway! And it's kicking off already! Obinna Nwaneri catches Sulley Muntari with barely 15 seconds on the clock, and they square up to each other before the referee intervenes to restore order!
    • - The teams take to the pitch at a packed out Accra Sports Stadium. There are 45,000 fans here, and you won't find many of them supporting Nigeria. The hosts are in white shirts, white shorts and white socks, while the Super Eagles are in their familiar all-green strip. The anthems are out of the way, and kick-off is moments away.
    • - Nigeria: Ejide; Taiwo, Yobo, Shittu, Nwaneri; Olofinjana, Obi, Etuhu, Uche; Odemwingie, Yakubu
    • - Ghana: Kingson; Sarpei, Mensah, Pantsil, Addo; Annan, Essien, Muntari; Quincy, Agogo, Gyan
    • - Good afternoon and welcome to eurosport.yahoo.com's LIVE coverage of this African Cup of Nations quarter final clash between old rivals Ghana and Nigeria from the Accra Sports Stadium in Accra. Kick-off is at 17:00 GMT.

  • Summary

    • 90' Paintsil concedes a corner on the Nigeria left. Odemwingie crosses to the near post, Ghana head clear. Nwaneri crosses from the right, Ghana clear. The ball goes back into the box, Essien heads it back to Kingson but he can't prevent the corner! This corner, though, is disappointing. Ghana breathe again.
    • 89' Here come Nigeria! Shittu plays the ball across goal and Muntari acrobatically heads the ball clear!
    • 86' And it's nearly three! Kingston shoots from the edge of the box and the ball whistles over the bar!
    • 83' GOAL! 2-1 Ghana! The 10 men take the lead! Muntari crosses low from close to the byline on the left and Agogo sidefoots the ball into the net from 2 yards!
    • 82' Chance for Ghana! Agogo brings down a long ball, turns Yobo and shoots with his left foot, but he doesn't catch it cleanly and it goes wide!
    • 78' Ghana on the attack! Dramani can't get a shot in from the left, nor can Muntari and Kingston's shot from the right-hand side of the box is blocked!
    • 63' Agogo closes in on goal but Shittu produces an excellent, strong challenge to deny him!
    • 61' What a strike! Taiwo hammers in a left-footed shot from the resulting free-kick, and Kingson has to parry it away!
    • 59' John Mensah is off! The Ghana skipper takes Odemwingie down as he bears down on goal, and because he's the last man he has to go!
    • 52' Odemwingie jinks his way into space before sending in a low shot that forces Kingson into a save!
    • 48' Obi Mikel attempts to get on the end of Uche's poked through-ball, and the defenders get in a complete muddle before Kingson swoops on the ball! A nervy moment for Ghana.
    • 47' What a goal that would have been! Kingson comes to the edge of his box to head the ball clear, Yakubu attempts a lob from 45 yards and the Ghana 'keeper just gets back in time to tip the ball over! Wonderful effort from Yakubu.
    • 45+3' GOAL! 1-1! Owusu-Abeyie crosses from the left and Essien rises to produce a thumping header that hits the base of the left-hand post before bouncing behind the line!
    • 41' Ghana looking to hit back! Owusu-Abeyie comes infield from the right and scuttles a left-footed shot just wide of Ejide's left-hand post!
    • 35' Yakubu steps up... AND SCORES! And it's a great penalty, low and hard to the 'keeper's right! Ghana look absolutely sutnned.
    • 34' PENALTY TO NIGERIA! Ghana can't believe it! Addo tugs Yakubu's shirt inside the box and the Everton man goes down!
    • 31' What a chance! Yakubu finds Uche bursting into the box but from 15 yards he toe-pokes his shot straight at the 'keeper!
    • 30' Yakubu out-muscles Eric Addo and is one-on-one with Kingson, but a free-kick is given.
    • 28' Anthony Annan shoots from distance, but despite a firm connection the shot is straight at Ejide.
    • 26' Agogo is through on goal! He latches onto Owusu-Abeyie's flick but over-runs the ball and sees his shot from a tight angle put behind by Ejide!
    • 25' Ghana hit the post! Essien releases Asamoah Gyan down the inside right channel and he takes the ball to the edge of the area before thumping a shot against the outside of the post!
    • 22' Great play from Owusu-Abeyie! He eludes a couple of challenges before surging goalwards, but a heavy touch allows the ball to run through to Ejide.
    • 15' Chance for Ghana! Muntari holds off Nwaneri on the left, strides into the box and crosses, and Yobo has to put it behind from inside the six yard box!
    • 12' Ike Uche finds Yakubu on the edge of the box, and he turns his man before dragging a left-footed shot wide! That was a good chance.
    • 10' Muntari tries to catch out Nigeria goal-keeper Austin Ejide at his near post from the free-kick, but the ball hits the side netting!

Live Team Line-Up

  • Ghana

    Manager: Claude Leroy

    On the Field

    • Kingston
    • Pantsil
    • Sarpei
    • Mensah Red Card
    • Addo
    • Essien Goal
    • Annan
    • Muntari
    • Gyan Yellow Card Substitution Out (62′)
    • Abeyie Substitution Out (74′)
    • Agogo Goal Yellow Card

    Subs

    • Gyan
    • Dramani Substitution In74′
    • Kingston Substitution In62′
    • Adjei
    • Ayew
    • Dauda
    • Asare
    • Illiasu
    • Afful
    • Kumodzi

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Nigeria

    Manager: Berti Vogts

    On the Field

    • Ejide
    • Taiwo Yellow Card
    • Yobo
    • Shittu
    • Nwaneri Yellow Card
    • Olofinjana
    • Mikel Yellow Card Substitution Out (85′)
    • Etuhu Substitution Out (71′)
    • Uche
    • Aiyegbeni Goal
    • Odemwingie

    Subs

    • Kanu
    • Afolabi
    • Enyeama
    • Utaka
    • Martins
    • Makinwa
    • Emeghara
    • Nsofor Obinna Substitution In85′
    • Eromoigbe Substitution In71′
    • Aiyenugba
    • Apam
    • Okonkwo

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None