VENUE:
FREE STATE STADIUM
KICK
OFF: 18:30 GMT
Ghana
coach Maxwell Konadu made one change from his previous line up against the DR
Congo as Aseidu Attobrah came in for Richard Mpong . It was Ghana who came out
of the blocks very attacking but failed to create any clear cut chance.
Seidu
Bancey to the first shot on goal when he controlled the ball with his chest
beautifully and struck home a half volley but went wide, in just about 2min. But just in 5min Ghana’s Kwabena Adusei and
Nigeria’s Ejike collided in the air after a n Ariel challenge. Ghana seemed to
have settled so early in the game as they won all the midfield battles.
In
the 12th min, Nigeria’s striker Abubarkar took a half volley but
went side netting. Ghana defender Kwabena Adusei received the first booking of
the game in the 14th min after a reckless challenge on Nigeria
midfielder Rabiu Ali. Ghana still dominated possession in the first 20 min
winning all the 50 50 balls. Aseidu Attobrah who was having his start always
kept the Nigerian defense on their toes as he kept on tormenting them. In the 26th minute Yahaya Mohammed
failed to capitalize on a counter break after he failed to shot home from close
range.
Nigeria nearly got the opening goal in the 27th min when
midfielder Ibrahim Abubakar struck from 35 yard only for the cross bar to deny
him from scoring. Nigeria seemed to have totally settled in the game as they
also came out with some good torches in midfield.
In
the 35th min Nigeria’s play maker Ejike got himself booked after
pulling the shirt of Theophilous Annobah.
Attobrah could have done better in the 37th min when he received
a perfect pass from Yahaya Mohammed only for him to misconstrue the ball and
fell easily in the penalty box. Ghana received a second yellow card after
Abieku Ainooson’s reckless challenge on Nigeria midfielder Ede. It seems the
game had become so physical after Nigeria midfielder Ugonno also was booked
after a challenge on Aseidu Attobrah. But after 2min of additional time the
first period of the game ended without yielding any goal as both side matched
into the tunnel.
Back
from recess, It was Nigeria who started on a bright note attacking the
Ghanaians in their own half. Things were not going well for they Black Stars as
they failed to have their passes go through. In the 52nd min Nigeria
forward Ede struggled his way through the Ghana defense but had his shot go
over the bar. Ghana was forced to make their first substitution when Yahaya
Mohommed was stretched off the field for 18 year old Samuel Afful in the 54th
min. Nigeria kept controlling the game and in the 63rd min Ghana
were reduced to 10 men after Kwabena Adusei received a 2nd yellow card after a challenge
on Ede.
Nigeria
capitalized on the one man lost to Ghana as they piled more pressure on the
Ghanaian defense. In the 74th min Nigeria’s midfielder Egochukwu had
his shot go wide. Ghana trying to reduce the pressure brought on midfielder
Latif Mohammed for Seidu Bancey in the 75th min. In the 77th
min, Nigeria’s Shewu shot home from 35 yards but went off target. Ghana knew
what was at stake as they sat back to defend. Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi yelling
for goal brought on Striker Joshua Obaje for Rabiu Ali to keep the pressure on
Ghana. The Black Stars still kept their composure as they matched the Nigerians
boot for boot. In the 89th min Nigeria’s danger man Chrisantos Ejike
had his long rage shot over the bar. After 4min of additional time, the game
had to travel to extra time.
Nigeria
still took off from where they ended as they still kept on the pressure on the
Ghanaian’s. Ghana still kept their
composure in the game, and Nigeria nearly got the opener after a counter break
just for Uzoenyi to blow the ball over the bar. Ghana broke on a counter attack
in the 100min but Attobrah seemed to have been caught with Physic as he lost the
ball easily. Ghana goalkeeper Stephen Adams seemed to have been in pain throughout
the extra time period as he had a groin. Ghana midfielder Aseidu Attobrah
despit the difficulties kept on edging the fans on. In the 114th min
Coach Maxwell Konadu inserted his last change bringing on Sulley Mohammed for
captain Jordan Opoku.
In the 117th min Nigerian attacker Ominaga had
his shot go just wide. Bright Eseme received a yellow card 2min to end proceedings’
after a challenge on Annobah. Stephen Adams ensured the game travelled to a
penalty shot outs after a superb save in the 120th min putting up a
great save to deny Nigeria from getting a lst min goal.
After
120 min of action, the game had to travel to a penalty shot outs.
LINE
UP: Stephen Adams, Abieku Ainooson, Joshua Tijani, Nuru Sulley, Kwabena Adusei,
Micheal Akuffo Aseidu Attobrah, Jordan Opoku/Sulley Mohammed, Seidu Bancey/Latif
Mohammed, Yahaya Mohammed/Samuel Afful, Theophilous Annobah.
Penalty
shoot outs
Micheal
Akuffo(Ghana)-Scored
Chrisantos
Ejike(Nigeria)-Ni Scored
Theophilous
Annobah(Ghana)- Scored
Solomon
Kwambe(Nigeria)- Missed
Abieku
Ainooson(Ghana) – Scored
Uzuchuchwu
Ugonna(Nigeria)- Missed
Asiedu
Attobrah(Ghana)- Scored
This
meant that Ghana qualified to the finals for the 2nd time after
winning 4-1 on penalties.
Ghana
defender Abieku Ainooson won the orange man of the match award.
By Frank
Darkwah
Follow Frank
Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi
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