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Thursday February 7, 2008 Finished Ohene Djan Stadium

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Ghana

Cameroon

  • Nkong 71’
  1. African Cup of Nations - Cameroon edge Ghana

    African Cup of Nations - Cameroon edge Ghana

    Cameroon reached the final of the African Cup of Nations after beating hosts Ghana 1-0 in a very tight semi-final at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Ghana
    • Cameroon
    • 19:00 Apologies once again for the technical problems we've been having, and thanks for all your emails. Stay tuned (so to speak) for live text coverage of Egypt v Ivory Coast at 20:30 GMT.
    • 90+5' And that's it! It's all over! Cameroon sneak their way through to the final with a 1-0 win, but they'll be without the services of Andre Bikey who was sent off for a quite ridiculous moment of madness. But the Lions march on, and the hosts go home, thanks to some superb defending from Rigobert Song and his back four and a fine finish from Alain Nkong.
    • 90+1' Andre Bikey has a complete rush of blood to the head! He pushes over a medic who is attending to ONE OF HIS OWN PLAYERS and he's promptly, rightly sent off! Stupid, stupid, stupid behaviour.
    • 89' Ghana are giving it their all! Kameni has to sprint to the edge of his box to punch a high ball clear! And Cameroon - regrettably - are resorting to some unfortunate time-wasting tactics.
    • 85' Ghana make a change. Young Dede Ayew is replaced by Ahmed Barruso.
    • 84' Mbia spots Kingson straying from his line and attempts a hopeful lob that goes well wide. Apologies for the delays to the comments. We're having a few technical problems, but do stick with us!
    • 81' What a chance for Ghana! Muntari curls in a free-kick from the left and Agogo, unmarked, sends a header over the bar from 10 yards!
    • 80' Great save Kameni! Agogo gets on the end of a through-ball but Kameni rushes out and spreads himself to make a vital stop!
    • 77' Cameroon make a switch: Augustin Binya comes on for Achille Emana.
    • 75' Ghana win a free-kick on the left, Muntari curls it in, Geremi heads it up into the air and Kameni does well to hold onto it under pressure from Agogo!
    • 71' GOAL! 1-0 Cameroon! Completely against the run of play, Eto'o picks out Alain Nkong in space on the left and the substitute coolly places the ball past Richard Kingson!
    • 70' Muntari fires a free-kick into the wall. The ball is played back into the box and Essien hits a half-volley that's deflected over the bar by Geremi. Rigobert Song isn't happy about something, and he picks up a yellow card.
    • 68' This is all Ghana now! Dramani crosses from the left and Alexandre Song puts it behind for a corner, which Cameroon clear.
    • 64' Gyan wriggles into the box from the left but Rigobert Song produces an excellent block to deny him! This game is really starting to hot up now!
    • 63' What a chance for Ghana! The resulting corner finds Pantsil completely unmarked at the back post, but Essien inadvertently puts him off and he directs his header wide!
    • 62' Cameroon respond with a change of their own, as Alain Nkong comes on for Joseph Desire Job. Rigobert Song denies Agogo with a superbly judged tackle inside the box, and the Nottingham Forest man acknowledges it with a smile.
    • 61' Dramani - who's been a real livewire in this second half - swings in a cross from the right and Alexandre Song heads the ball away from right in front of Ayew! Asamoah Gyan comes on for Owusu-Abeyie.
    • 60' Annan seizes on the ball in a central position and flashes a right-footed shot wide from about 25 yards!
    • 59' Dramani beats Atouba wide on the right and goes to ground, but referee Abderrahim El Arjoune isn't having any of it and awards a goal kick.
    • 57' Dramani races into the box from the right but his touch is too strong and Kameni slides out to deny him!
    • 55 Emana plays the ball towards Eto'o inside the Ghana area but Essien denies him with a crucial challenge!
    • 54 Agogo tussles with Rigobert Song wide on the right, but despite his best efforts he can't prevent the ball going out of play for a goal kick.
    • 53 Agogo almost gets on the end of a header into the Cameroon box but Kameni gets there just ahead of him! Joseph Desire Job is caught offside at the other end.
    • 51' It was Alexandre Song who denied Essien, and he took a hefty clonk on the back of the calf for his troubles. He's back on his feet soon enough though.
    • 50' Ghana on the attack! Owusu-Abeyie and then Essien drive purposefully into the Cameroon box, but both are halted by firm challenges. That's got the crowd on their feet!
    • 48' Cameroon have made a change at half-time, with Jean Joel Epalle coming on for Mohamadou Idrissou.
    • 47' Alexandre Song curls a left-footer over the bar from about 25 yards.
    • 46' The second period begins. Emana crosses from the Cameroon left, but it's too long for Eto'o. A. Zakaria Hegazi from Maryland in the USA thinks this one's going to penalties. It's certainly been a tight game so far.
    • H-T Keep your emails coming in to twilliams@eurosport.com. It's a pleasure to have your company. The second half is coming up shortly!
    • H-T Exotic Locations Update: Nana Erico is in Melbourne, Australia, Muhammad Zul 'Izzi is in Malaysia, Ali Abu-El-Magd is in Ontario, Canada and Toshul Goordyal - my personal favourite so far - is in Mauritius. Between us, it looks like we've got the whole world pretty much covered.
    • H-T Now for those emails... Evaristus Agoha thinks Cameroon's over-confidence will kill them, but Nformi Williams Ngenge is backing the Indomitable Lions (although he is writing from Cameroon...). Enyiewa Adi from Poland is a Cameroon fan, as is Nelson Bolima, who's keeping track of the game from a US Naval Ship! Michael Wilson, meanwhile, thinks I "must be kidding" if I think Kameni is the best goalkeeper at the tournament. I assure you I am not.
    • 45+3' Chance for Ghana right on half-time! Muntari crosses from the left and Ayew, stretching, puts his header over the bar! And the half-time whistle goes! It's not been a particularly pretty opening period, but both sides have had chances.
    • 45+1' Annan finds Dramani with a sharp pass down the Ghana left, but Geremi dispossesses him.
    • 45' There will be three minutes of injury time.
    • 44' Pantsil puts Kingson under pressure with a very firmly struck back-pass, and the Ghana stopper can't prevent the corner! Idrissou plays it to the back post, but the header goes over the bar.
    • 43' Kameni comfortably claims a cross from the right. Best goalkeeper in the tournament - what do you think?
    • 41' Atouba produces a firm challenge to deny the advancing John Pantsil.
    • 38' And Geremi's free-kick hits the woodwork! It swerves like a demon in the air before cannoning out of play off the junction of post and bar! That would have been the goal of the tournament - he was about 40 yards out!
    • 37' Muntari and Eto'o collide inside the Ghana half and both go down looking pained. Free-kick to Cameroon. Geremi looks like he fancies it...
    • 35' Owusu-Abeyie gets away from Rigobert Song down the Ghana right but the Cameroon skipper recovers to nick the ball off him for a corner, which is headed cleared at the near post.
    • 34' Mbia sends a high ball into the Ghana box but it's a comfortable catch for Kingson, who seems to have recovered from the injury he picked up in that collision with Eto'o.
    • 31' Emana crosses from the Cameroon right, Essien chests it clear. Owusu-Abeyie scurries into the box from the left at the other end but runs into trouble.
    • 30' Ghana work the ball to the back post but Dramani rushes his shot and slices it well wide.
    • 28' Sight of goal for Ghana! Dede Ayew cuts in from the left and shoots from the edge of the box, but doesn't connect cleanly and it's a fairly easy stop for Kameni.
    • 26' Atouba launches a long throw into the box from the left, and Kingson does well to claim it.
    • 25' Muntari hoofs a shot well over the bar from distance. Some early entries in the Most Exotic Location Competition: Ed Bassett and Kojo Antwi are in Toronto, Canada (but not together), Mike Wilson is in the USA, Hélio Pereira is in Portugal, Paulius Stirbis is in Lithuania and Dayson is in Brazil.
    • 24' Owusu-Abeyie crosses from the right, but it comes to nothing.
    • 22' Kingson has changed his gloves. It's all still a bit scrappy out there.
    • 21' Achille Emana sends in a dipping half-volley from outside the area and it flies just over the crossbar!
    • 20' Mohamadou Idrissou does well to keep the ball in play on the Cameroon left, but can't pick anyone out with his cross.
    • 19' Dramani sprints infield from the right and out-paces Rigobert Song but he over-runs it and Kameni dashes out to pounce!
    • 18' Owusu-Abeyie bursts forward towards the Ghana right but he's halted by a firm challenge from Atouba. No real pattern to the game as yet.
    • 17' But it goes straight into the wall and Ghana clear. Keep your emails coming in to twilliams@eurosport.com. There's a prize for the person in the most exotic location...
    • 16' Cameroon win a free-kick in the inside-right channel about 35 yards from goal. Eto'o will take it...
    • 14' Muntari looks to catch out Carlos Kameni with an inswinging free-kick to the back post but he over-eggs it and it goes over the bar for a goal kick.
    • 13' Lovely football from Ghana! They work the ball to the right wing via Agogo in the box and Haminu Dramani wins a free-kick for a foul by Atouba.
    • 12' Muntari tussles with Alexandre Song on the Ghana left and appeals for a corner, but the referee says goal kick.
    • 11' Kingson is now back on his feet, but he doesn't look comfortable. Reserve goalkeeper Sammy Adjei gets out of his seat on the bench...
    • 10' Ade Owolabi knows who he's backing: "As much as it would be nice for the host to go through to the finals, you have got to say the experience of Cameroon will make them emerge as winners. The ride stops here for Ghana."
    • 9' Danger for Ghana! Alexandre Song curls a cross to the back post from the left and Richard Kingson collides with Samuel Eto'o as he punches the ball clear! The whistle goes for a foul by Eto'o.
    • 7' Annan shoots from distance, but it goes well, well wide.
    • 6' Cameroon win a corner on the right and play it short to Timothee Atouba, but his cross is over-hit and goes out for a goal kick.
    • 5' Chance for Ghana! Andre Bikey concedes a free-kick on the left for tugging back Agogo, Sulley Muntari curls it in, the ball bounces to Eric Addo at the back post but he lets it go right over his head!
    • 4' The throw goes into the box, but Rigobert Song heads it clear. Samuel Eto'o is dispossessed in midfield by Annan, who's been linked with a move to Chelsea in this morning's papers.
    • 3' Agogo forces Rigobert Song into a clearance on the Ghana right. Throw-in to the Black Stars.
    • 2' Ghana have lined up roughly in a 4-4-2 formation, with former Arsenal man Quincy Owusu-Abeyie partnering Junior Agogo up front.
    • 1' And we're off! Cameroon are attacking from right to left in this first half. Stephane Mbia - Cameroon's hero in the quarter-final win over Tunisia - catches Anthony Annan with a late challenge in midfield.
    • 16:58 The anthems are out of the way, and kick-off will be upon us shortly. The stadium here in Accra is a riot of colour. Keep your comments coming in to twilliams@eurosport.com. We'll have a look at the best of them at half-time.
    • 16:55 The teams make their way onto the field, Ghana in all-white and Cameroon in their famous green shirts, red shorts and yellow socks.
    • 16:50 So, the teams are in, and both sides have gone for attacking formations. Looks like Essien will indeed be playing at centre half for Ghana...
    • 16:48 Referee: Abderrahim El Arjoune (Morocco)
    • 16:47 Cameroon: Kameni; Geremi, Song, Bikey, Atouba; Emana, Song Billong, Mbia; Job, Eto'o, Idrissou
    • 16:46 Ghana: Kingson; Sarpei, Pantsil, Essien, Addo; Annan, Dramani, Ayew; Muntari, Agogo, Quincy
    • 16:45 TEAM NEWS: Ghana must make do without captain John Mensah, who was shown a red card for a professional foul in their 2-1 quarter-final win over Nigeria. Coach Claude LeRoy has hinted that Essien may be moved into the back four to take his place. Cameroon, meanwhile, are at full strength.
    • 16:40 Ghana and Cameroon go into the game both in bullish mood. Cameroon boss Otto Pfister confidently predicts that he will "tactically paralyse" the Black Stars, while stand-in Ghana captain Michael Essien says: "With the way we have played in this tournament so far, victory will surely be ours". Which way do you think it will go?
    • 16:35 Both sides have won the competition four times, which is one less than record-holders Egypt, who have five tournament wins to their name. Ghana are in the last four for the first time since 1996, while Cameroon last made the semi-finals en route to lifting the trophy in 2002.
    • 16:30 Good afternoon and thank-you for joining us for eurosport.yahoo.com's LIVE coverage of the first African Cup of Nations semi-final between hosts Ghana and Cameroon. We're at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, and kick-off is at 17:00 GMT. If you want to get in touch to share your thoughts, you can email twilliams@eurosport.com.

  • Summary

    • 90+1' Andre Bikey has a complete rush of blood to the head! He pushes over a medic who is attending to ONE OF HIS OWN PLAYERS and he's promptly, rightly sent off! Stupid, stupid, stupid behaviour.
    • 81' What a chance for Ghana! Muntari curls in a free-kick from the left and Agogo, unmarked, sends a header over the bar from 10 yards!
    • 75' Ghana win a free-kick on the left, Muntari curls it in, Geremi heads it up into the air and Kameni does well to hold onto it under pressure from Agogo!
    • 71' GOAL! 1-0 Cameroon! Completely against the run of play, Eto'o picks out Alain Nkong in space on the left and the substitute coolly places the ball past Richard Kingson!
    • 64' Gyan wriggles into the box from the left but Rigobert Song produces an excellent block to deny him! This game is really starting to hot up now!
    • 63' What a chance for Ghana! The resulting corner finds Pantsil completely unmarked at the back post, but Essien inadvertently puts him off and he directs his header wide!
    • 55 Emana plays the ball towards Eto'o inside the Ghana area but Essien denies him with a crucial challenge!
    • 50' Ghana on the attack! Owusu-Abeyie and then Essien drive purposefully into the Cameroon box, but both are halted by firm challenges. That's got the crowd on their feet!
    • 38' And Geremi's free-kick hits the woodwork! It swerves like a demon in the air before cannoning out of play off the junction of post and bar! That would have been the goal of the tournament - he was about 40 yards out!
    • 28' Sight of goal for Ghana! Dede Ayew cuts in from the left and shoots from the edge of the box, but doesn't connect cleanly and it's a fairly easy stop for Kameni.
    • 21' Achille Emana sends in a dipping half-volley from outside the area and it flies just over the crossbar!
    • 9' Danger for Ghana! Alexandre Song curls a cross to the back post from the left and Richard Kingson collides with Samuel Eto'o as he punches the ball clear! The whistle goes for a foul by Eto'o.
    • 5' Chance for Ghana! Andre Bikey concedes a free-kick on the left for tugging back Agogo, Sulley Muntari curls it in, the ball bounces to Eric Addo at the back post but he lets it go right over his head!

Live Team Line-Up

  • Ghana

    Manager: Claude Leroy

    On the Field

    • Kingston
    • Sarpei
    • Addo
    • Essien
    • Pantsil
    • Annan
    • Muntari
    • Dramani
    • Ayew Substitution Out (86′)
    • Agogo
    • Abeyie Substitution Out (61′)

    Subs

    • Gyan Substitution In (61′)
    • Gyan
    • Adjei
    • Barusso Substitution In (85′)
    • Dauda
    • Asare
    • Illiasu
    • Afful
    • Kumodzi

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Cameroon

    Manager: Otto Pfister

    On the Field

    • Kameni
    • Geremi
    • Bikey Red Card
    • Song Yellow Card
    • Atouba
    • Emana Substitution Out (78′)
    • M'Bia
    • Song
    • Idrissou Substitution Out (46′)
    • Job Substitution Out (62′)
    • Eto'o

    Subs

    • 3. Tchato
    • 20. Essola
    • M'Bami
    • 11. Makoun
    • 6. Angbwa
    • 16. Hamidou
    • 14. Epalle Substitution In (46′)
    • 2. Gilles Binya Substitution In (77′)
    • 22. Mbarga
    • 13. Nguemo
    • 12. Nkong Substitution In (62′) Goal

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None