Ghana 2-1 Nigeria
Ghana have reached the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations as Nottingham Forest's Junior Agogo scored a late winner as the hosts ten men beat Nigeria 2-1 in Accra. Nigeria had gone in front through Everton striker Yakubu, but Chelsea's Michael Essien equalised before their captain, John Mensah, was sent off.
The game was played in a feverish atmosphere but the hosts got off to a poor start as, having dominated the opening stages of the game, they allowed Nigeria to take the lead.
It was a goal all of Yakubu's own work as the frontman picked himself up after being crudely fouled to slide the ball into the corner from the resulting penalty.
Ghana came back into the game and, moments before half-time, Essien planted a header past Austin Edije and in off the far post.
The second-half was an even affair that was sprung into life by the dismissal of Mensah, who clipped the heels of Peter Odemwingie as the forward raced clear on goal.
But instead of Nigeria being emboldened by the decision it was the hosts who took the initiative, and after a period of sustained pressure Agogo found himself free at the back post to convert Sulley Muntari's low cross.
Nigeria attacked purposefully in the final few minutes but were unable to make their territorial advantage count as Ghana held on to reach the semi-finals, where they will meet either Tunisia or Cameroon.
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