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Nigeria national football team
African Nations Championship | Semi-Finals
Jan 29, 2014 at 6.30pm UK
 
Ghana national football team

0-0


Adusei (64')
FT
Ghana win 4-1 on penalties

Live Commentary: Nigeria 0-0 (1-4 on pens) Ghana - as it happened

Sports Mole brings you live coverage of the African Nations Championship semi-final encounter between Nigeria and Libya.
2

Ghana have earned a place in the final of the African Nations Championship after they defeated Nigeria on penalties.

Kwabena Adusei was dismissed for Ghana midway through the second half, but his side managed to cling on until the end of extra time.

The shootout was dominated by Ghana, who netted four unstoppable kicks, while Nigeria missed two of their three attempts.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Free State Stadium.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the match between Nigeria and Ghana in the semi-finals of the African Nations Championship.

Without further ado, let's bring you news on the two starting lineups.

GHANA XI: Adams; Abusei, Ainooson, Tijani, Sulley; Akuffo, Opoku, Attobrah; Bansey, Anobaah, Mohammed

NIGERIA XI: Agbim; Solomon, Odunlami, Egwuekwe, Eseme; Uzochukwu, Ali, Shehu; Ejike, Ibrahim, Ede

We are underway in the second semi-final.

EFFORT! Ghana have started this semi-final at a ferocious pace, with Seidu Bansey sending a 25-yard volley flashing marginally past the post.

That looked really nasty. Christantus Ejike has challenged for a high ball, only to collide heads with a Ghana player and fall head first to the turf. It looked horrific, but fortunately, treatment arrived quickly. However, he has been stretchered off, and his condition remains unknown.

That's a better sight. Ejike is back on his feet, although he is having plenty of water poured over him. There were a lot of concerned looks in the immediate aftermath of that incident.

The action on the pitch is being dominated by Ghana, who haven't given Nigeria a chance to get comfortable in this match. Their latest effort was deflected inches wide of the post.

Nigeria create their first opening when a long throw from the right caused mayhem in the Ghana penalty area, but Abubakar Ibrahim could only hook is overhead kick into the side-netting.

There are plenty of challenges flying in from both sides. I can't see this match finishing with the full amount of players on the pitch!

Nigeria looked like rabbits caught in headlights at the start of this match, but they are beginning to string together a sustained period of possession. Ghana are happy enough to let them have the ball on the halfway line.

Ghana put together an excellent move, but Yahaya Mohammed can't put together the finishing touches inside the penalty area.

SHOT! Abubakar Ibrahim comes inches away from scoring the goal of the tournament for Nigeria! The 19-year-old let fly with an audacious attempt from 35 yards out, and just as it appeared destined for the top corner, the ball struck the post and rebounded clear.

This game is much more entertaining than the first semi-final, but it still needs a goal. I need a goal...

Abubakar Ibrahim looks quite a talent for Nigeria. He just jinked his way past a Ghana defender before getting blatantly fouled to halt his momentum. Remember the name...

Nigeria win a corner out on the left, but the out-swinging delivery is launched clear by Ghana. This half has ground to a halt in terms of the attractive football that was being played previously.

We've less than three minutes remaining until the break. Both managers will be quite pleased with what they have witnessed, but there needs to be a bit more of a cutting edge in attack.

There will be two minutes of added-on time. I thought there would have been more than that.

HALF TIME: Nigeria 0-0 Ghana

The half-time whistle goes in Mangaung, and we remain goalless between Nigeria and Ghana.

As a collective unit, Ghana look more likely to score, but Nigeria have threatened on more than one occasion through Abubakar Ibrahim. This could go either way, and after sitting through 120 minutes of Zimbabwe and Libya without a goal, I'm just hoping that either team scores in the next 45 minutes.

The winners of this match will play Libya, after they emerged victorious from a penalty shootout against Zimbabwe. Seven spot-kicks out of 16 were missed, but it was Libya who came out on top.

Nigeria get us back underway.

Right then everyone, positive thoughts! Let's have a goal. Nigeria come close right from the off after a long throw, but the goalkeeper punches clear.

It's all Nigeria at the start of this half. They are penning Ghana back on the edge of their own 18-yard box, and although Ghana manage to clear, they immediately conceded a foul to invite more pressure.

More good work from Nigeria sees them create an opportunity on the left-hand side of the penalty area, but a shot is blazed over from 10 yards. Dare I say it, encouraging signs...

OUCH! Theophilus Anobaah has just received some studs on his chest when sliding in for the ball. It wasn't intentional, but, ouch...

Ghana win a free kick 25 yards from goal. Will this be the moment? Of course it won't. The shot is blocked.

RED CARD! I told you that there would be a sending off! Kwabena Adusei has been dismissed for Ghana for a second yellow card. He can have no complaints. He went in aggressively, with his left boot catching a Nigeria player in the stomach.

Can Nigeria take advantage? They were already bossing this second half, so you would imagine that it's only a matter of time...

Nigeria begin a break down the left, but after the ball is passed to the edge of the penalty area, a shot from 30 yards finds the top tier of the stands.

Nigeria's Bright Iseme tries his luck from 25 yards, but he drags his shot well wide of the post. It's all Nigeria, but they aren't creating anything inside the penalty area.

Are Nigeria incapable of having any subtlety in their play? yet another attempt comes from a silly distance, and it goes miles wide.

There's less than 10 minutes to go in Mangaung. It's looking like a second helping of extra time because neither goalkeeper is having to deal with a shot on target.

Nigeria win a corner, but despite winning the first header, Ghana clear, with two of their players clashing inside the six-yard box.

There will be four minutes of added-on time. Please, someone score.

Nigeria are running out of ideas to force a late winner, and Ghana haven't looked like scoring all half.

Ghana concede a free kick in a dangerous position out on the left, but Nigeria take it quickly - what are they doing?!

FULL TIME: Nigeria 0-0 Ghana

We are going into extra-time, folks. I can't promise that my enthusiasm will last much longer. It's been a long day.

We are underway in extra time.

What's happened there?! Nigeria think they have a penalty, but the referee has given it the other way? There was no booking for a dive, and it wasn't a foul...weird!

MISS! How has Imenger Barnabus missed that?! So close, yet so far. The ball was pulled back across the six-yard box, but the striker has blazed his shot over. Will Nigeria rue that miss?

It's a scrappy end to the half, with Ghana buying a few fouls from the referee.

Stephen Adams, the Ghana goalkeeper, appears to have pulled his thigh muscle. He needs to continue though - all three subs have been made!

HALF TIME: Nigeria 0-0 Ghana

We are back underway.

Ghana concede a free kick on the right touchline. Will Nigeria take it quick this time? No they won't. Maybe they have learnt their lesson. Nevertheless, the set piece hits the first man and is cleared.

You have to give a lot of credit to Ghana. They have played nearly 45 minutes with 10 men, and they are arguably the better side at the moment. Can they force a winner before we get to penalties.

The Nigeria coach must be so frustrated with the choices that his players are making in threatening positions. They worked the ball perfectly down the right, but the right-back opted to hit a first-time shot from 30 yards over the crossbar. Baffling...

Nigeria create another opportunity, but the ball is sliced out of play. Are you ready for penalties?

CLOSE! I thought that I had spoken too soon! Imenger Barnabas fires a shot from 12 yards across goal, but it just misses the far post. That was close!

Ghana win a free kick on the right. This could be the last chance of the game.

Headed away...two minutes of added-on to come.

WHAT A SAVE!!! That's incredible. Nigeria create a chance for Barnabas in the middle, but his six-yard header was superbly tipped over by Stephen Adams.

FULL TIME: Nigeria 0-0 Ghana

Nigeria can't quite believe that they haven't scored there. It was an astonishing stop from Adams. Penalties are coming right up.

Nigeria 0-1 Ghana It's Ghana to take the first. Akuffo scores! Great pen

Nigeria 1-1 Ghana Ejike's spot-kick is equally impressive!

Nigeria 1-2 Ghana That one tops the lot! Anobaah crashes the ball into the top corner.

Nigeria 1-2 Ghana SAVE! Adams pulls off a phenomenal save from Solomon.

Nigeria 1-3 Ghana Oh my word. Ghana's penalties have been immense. Ainooson places the ball into the top corner.

Nigeria 1-3 Ghana MISS! Disaster for Nigeria. Uzochukwu sends his penalty over the bar.

Nigeria 1-4 Ghana Ghana are into the final! Atrobaah fires into the top corner.

What an incredible effort from Ghana. They looked down and out after being reduced to 10 men midway through the second half, but they held on to force penalties. That save from Stephen Adams in the final minute of extra time has got them through to the final.

Ghana will now play Libya in Saturday's final. I hope that there are more goals than today has thrown up!

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for sticking with us for what has been a testing few hours, but Libya and Ghana supporters - your team are in the final! Goodbye for now.

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Group A

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Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

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Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

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Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

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Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

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Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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