Ghana reached its first Africa Cup of Nations final in ten years after coming from behind to beat Nigeria 2-1 in their semi – final match played in Dakar, Senegal.
Captain Abedi Ayew Pele was a thorn in the flesh of the Super Eagles, tackling at one stage, setting up defensive splitting passes, inspiring his mates with pep talks and crowning it all with a classic equalising goal.
This was a match which had the partially filled stadium roaring with excitement from the first whistle for its uncompromising nature and living up to its pre-match expectations as a rival of the oldest rivalry in African football.
One minute into the match , the tone for the match was set as Abedi was brought down by towering defender Emeka Ezeugo. Tony Yeboah followed when he was also felled almost immediately.
But the game had hardly settled when the Eagles went into the lead. The Nigerians scored with just 11 minutes on the clock through Matiu Adepoju’s header after a short corner kick .The header was not too powerful and Edward Ansah seemed to have it covered but somehow the ball beat him and rolled into the net.
The goal seemed to have dazed the Stars and reinvigorated the Super Eagles. Indeed, they should have gone ahead again in the 16th minute when Yekini found himself clear in the Stars goal area but fumbled.
Still in contention, the Nigerians surged forward and they were awarded a free – kick outside the Stars goal area but the shot at goal was deflected to corner.
Two minutes later, the Ghanaians broke out of their defensive posture as Sarfo Gyamfi, playing as a stopper, in a moment of inspired adventure, moved deep into the Eagles half and lifted the ball over a defender to Tony Yeboah. The striker clever lob went over the bar.
Then after Yeboah’s headed connection to a corner – kick again sailed over the cross bar, Ali Ibrahim had the stadium roaring with a colourful display of ball control, raising the ball over a defender, chesting it before hitting a left – footer towards goal.
But disaster nearly struck again for the Stars in the 25th minute as Yekini swerved past Tony Yeboah and headed for a goal with the libero partially sherpeding him. However, Ansah came off his line to block the striker’s shot.
But more trouble was to follow when Ali Ibrahim was stretched off after an injury in the 32nd minute. He was replaced by Price Polley. Soon after this , the Eagles threatened again. Augustine Eguavon danced through the Stars defence until he was stopped by Tony Baffoe’s tackle.
The referee awarded a free – kick close to the penalty box but thanks to Yekini’s wild shooting the Stars had a reprieve. That was in the 36th minute and four minutes later, Tunisian referee Neji shocked the stadium by showing Abedi the yellow card when it was obvious he originally intended it for Kwasi Appiah.
The yellow card shown Abedi ruled him out of the final against Ivory Coast three days later.
The crowd showed its disapproval by hooting the Tunisian who surprised many by some of his strange decisions. In response to this rash decision, Abedi was to visit his wrath on the Nigerians three minutes from recess.
The Stars earned a corner – kick, and Starlet’s Isaac Asare, playing his first full international match, floated the ball across the goalmouth and Abedi flicked it with his head past Alloy Agu for the equaliser.
The Stars brought in Nii Darko Ankrah for Kwasi Appiah after recess and one minute into the session earned a free – kick outside the Nigerian goal area after Sarfo Gyamfi had been fouled. Abedi’s kick missed narrowly.
Four minutes later, Abedi sent in an incisive pass meant for Yeboah but the Frankfurt striker couldn’t meet it. But soon after the Stars struck.
A corner – kick taken by Abedi was headed back by the Eagles. It went to Aborah who sent it back to Prince Opoku, lurking close to the posts. His overhead connection sailed into the roof of the net for what turned to be the match winner.
That was in the 58th minute and thereafter the Eagles laid a virtual seige on the Ghana territory and subjected the defence of Nii Darko Ankrah, Asare, Sarfo Gyamfi, Ampeah, Aborah and Tony Baffoe to several tormenting moments with Siasia as the tormentor in Chief.
At this stage. all the Stars resorted to defend to soak up the pressure and counter – attacks. This strategy should have paid off if Nii Odartey Lamptey’s inexperience had not led him to try a solo efforts when a pass to a teammate would have meant Ghana going further ahead.
On four occasions he tried to go through the defence alone and was stopped. When in the 77th minute Nigeria lost tough- tackling defender Ajibade Babalade who was shown the red card for a fowl on Tony Yeboah, it seemed the gods had turned against the Eagles who despite maintaining the pressure failed to clinch the equaliser and thus bringing their dream of a second Africa Cup of Nations triumph to an end.
Ghana: Edward Ansah – Tony Baffoe, Kwasi Apiah (46′ Nii Darko Ankrah), Stanley Abroah, Emmanuel Ampeah, Isaac Asare, Sarfo Gyamfi, Odartey Lamptey, Abedi Pelé, Tony Yeboah, Ali Ibrahim (34′ Prince Polley)
Coach: Otto PFISTER (Germany)
Nigeria: Alloy Agu – Reuben Agboola, Stephen Keshi, Ajibade Babalade, Emeka Ezeugo, Augustine Eguavon, Thompson Oliha, Finidi George (67′ Friday Ekpo), Mutiu Adepoju, Rashidi Yekini, Samson Siasia
Coach: Clemens WESTERHOF (Netherlands)
Referee: Neji Touini -Tunisia
Other AFCON fixtures on 23 January
1992 Semi-final:Cameroon 0-0 Ivory Coast AEThttps://www.google.com/amp/s/www.modernghana.com/amp/sports/468073/facts-and-figures-abedi-pele-was-never-ghanas.html
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2000 Group: South Africa 3-1 Gabon
2000 Group: Egypt 2-0 Zambia
2000 Group: Nigeria 4-2 Tunisia
2006 Group: Nigeria 1-0 Ghana
2006 Group: Zimbabwe 0-2 Senegal
2008 Group: Tunisia 2-2 Senegal
2008 Group: South Africa 1-1 Angola
2012 Group: Gabon 2-0 Niger
2012 Group: Morocco 1-2 Tunisia
2013 Group: South Africa 2-0 Angola
2013 Group: Cape Verde 1-1 Morocco
2015 Group: Ghana 1-0 Algeria
2015 Group: South Africa 1-1 Senegal
2017 Group: Senegal 2-2 Algeria
2017 Group: Zimbabwe 2-4 Tunisia
By: George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah
