Gyan goal sends Ghana into final
Reuters - Thursday 28 January 2010, 19:24
LUANDA, - A first-half goal by Asamoah Gyan
earned Ghana a 1-0 win over Nigeria on Thursday and a place in
the African Nations Cup final for the first time in 18 years.
Gyan, who also scored the only goal in the quarter-final win
over hosts Angola, headed home in the 21st minute.
Nigeria enjoyed long periods of possession and created the
best chances but Ghana held firm.
The Black Stars, who last won the continental tournament in
1982, will meet either holders Egypt or Algeria in Sunday's
final at Luanda's November 11 stadium.
"I told my players we were going to play to reach the final
and not to produce beautiful football, only the result matters,
it's all about the result," Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac told a
news conference.
"Nigeria had a few good chances. Our team is very young and
we let them be dangerous because of this lack of experience," he
added. "Defence is a very important thing in modern football."
His Nigeria counterpart Shaibu Amodu would not say Ghana
were the better team.
"I would not say we lost against a better side. We lost to a
youthful and enterprising side. We had possibilities to win this
match but this is football."
SNUFFED OUT
Nigeria, eliminated by Ghana two years ago in the Nations
Cup quarter-finals, needed freshening up after being forced to
play 120 minutes and a penalty shootout to advance from the
previous round.
Amodu made three changes from the team that beat Zambia,
with Obafemi Martins taking over from Yakubu Ayegbeni up front.
The Wolfsburg striker proved a threat to the Ghana defence
in the early stages as Nigeria made the better start against a
Ghana side featuring four players from their triumphant Under-20
World Cup team.
But Ghana, without the experienced Michael Essien, John
Mensah and Stephen Appiah through injury, went ahead against the
run of play when Gyan nipped at the near post to head home from
a Kwadwo Asamoah corner.
Gyan almost doubled the lead three minutes later with a lob
that went just over Vincent Enyeama's bar.
In the 28th minute, Ghana keeper Richard Kingson stretched
to his left and parried away a shot from Martins.
Nigeria piled on the pressure after the break and Martins
went close again at the hour when his attempt to lift the ball
past Kingson bounced off the Ghana keeper's chest.
Inter Milan striker Obinna Nsofor was brought in for
midfielder Yusuf Ayila and Yakubu replaced Peter Odemwingie in
an attempt by Amodu to sharpen his attacking line.
The move almost paid off immediately when a forceful cross
from Elderson Echiejile took a deflection off Yakubu's knee and
went just wide.
Nigeria had another great chance 15 minutes from time when
Martins raced into the box but Samuel Inkoom got back to snuff
out the danger.
NEWS: Egypt crush eight-man Algeria