Ghana beats Nigeria to reach African Cup final
Akurang-Parry, Kwabena
The African gods were just behind Ghana - sheer luck! The Nigerians were more purposeful at goal and were just unlucky!
Kwabena
--------------------------------------
Ghanaweb, January 28, 2010
"YES!!!!"
Ghana reached its first African Cup of Nations final in 18 years Thursday after Asamoah Gyan scored to secure a 1-0 win over Nigeria.
Gyan broke the deadlock in the 21st minute against the run of the play with a header at the near post from Kwadwo Asamoah's corner to send the Black Stars into the biennial tournament's final for the first time since 1992.
Gyan also scored the winner in Ghana's 1-0 win over Angola in the quarterfinals.
World Cup qualifier Ghana will next face the winner between Algeria and Egypt, who played later Thursday in the other semifinal.
Nigeria dominated from the start and created a number of good chances but was unable to break down Ghana's rock-solid defense.
Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac made one change from the team that beat host Angola in the quarterfinals, bringing in Anthony Annan for Haminu Draman after the midfielder recovered from a thigh injury.
Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins, who replaced Yakubu Ayegbeni in the starting lineup, had a good chance in the opening minute when he was set up in the box by Peter Odemwingie but failed to reach the ball.
Ghana forward Andre Ayew then went close when he backheeled Lee Addy's cross wide in the 9th minute before Gyan gave his side the lead.
Nigeria should have equalized five minutes later after Martins connected with Odemwingie's shot in the box only to see his effort well saved by Richard Kingson.
Nigeria had a strong start to the second half and an Odemwingi cross caused confusion in the Ghana box with Kingson forced to make a diving save after a misdirected pass by his own defender.
Following a quick run down the right, Chinedu Obasi then unleashed a powerful shot from a tight angle that hit the side netting in the 49th.
Nigeria kept the pressure on, but was again denied by Kingson when the Ghana keeper saved from Martins after he had been put through with a perfect chipped pass over the defense from John Obi Mikel in the 59th.
Trying to beef up his attack, under-fire Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu brought Yakubu on for Odemwingie with 20 minutes left. The Everton striker immediately looked a threat but volleyed over the bar from Echiejile's cross following a swift Nigerian move on the
left.
Nigeria, who last reached the tournament final in 2000, continued to creating half chances until the end but couldn't breach Ghana's defense.
chris.o...@uni.edu
Kwabena,
Yes, the African gods were behind Ghana in today's Nations Cup tie with Nigeria -- just as they were behind Nigeria in the match up against Zambia. In South Africa, no gods will be behind any African team against Argentina, England, Italy etc. African teams need to improve the standard(s) we have seen of them so far.
--
Chris W. Ogbondah, Ph.D.
Professor of Journalism
Co-ordinator of Mass Communication Program
Department of Communication Studies
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
Phone: 319-273-5913
Fax: 319-273-7356
--- Original Message ---
| -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin. For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html To post to this group, send an email to USAAfric...@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue- unsub...@googlegroups.com |
Tony Agbali
Good luck to Ghana. I think that the Nigerian Super Eagles from the beginning of this competition, if not even before, were doomed. The coach informed us he did not have a mandate to win to the African Nations Cup. He did not deem it fit that he could use the competition as a preparatory prelude to the World Cup.
The entire specter stinks. I think that the Super Eagles would have been better staying at home. As far, as I am concern, none of their victories in the African Cup of Nations this far has been so convincing that this is an outstanding team ready for the big space and specter that the soccer mundial represent.
I hope they do get- coaches and players- to learn some vital lessons regarding mediocrity, lack lustre planning, and idiotic arrogance.
--- On Thu, 1/28/10, Akurang-Parry, Kwabena <KAP...@ship.edu> wrote: |
Akurang-Parry, Kwabena
Hello Chris,
It seems to me that both of us have deified the windfall of luck that visited the camps of the Black Stars and the Green Eagles. That being the case, I am optimistic that our African gods will bring their baptism of luck to the world cup: certainly we will sorely need it. Thanks.
Kwabena.
From: usaafric...@googlegroups.com [usaafric...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of chris.o...@uni.edu [chris.o...@uni.edu]
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 5:20 PM
To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Ghana beats Nigeria to reach African Cup final