It is THE ‘derby’ in African football, Ghana versus Nigeria echoes the great international derbies of the ages Brazil versus Argentina, Holland versus Germany and England versus Scotland. It is more than a match, in football terms it is war.
Ghana came into the match on a high, hosts of the 2008 tournament they had grabbed maximum points from the group stages and in the midfield pair of Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari had a world class nucleus to their team. Nigeria were seeking redemption and rejuvenation after a lack lustre set of group matches had seen them narrowly sneaking into the quarter-finals, they needed a big victory to kick start their campaign and what better win than the scalp of the hosts.
The early skirmishes in the first half saw Ghana with most of the possession and first chance fell to the black stars when a Taiye Taiwo foul on Quincy Owusu-Abeiye, saw Sulley Muntari bury the resultant free-kick into the side netting. Nigeria got into the game soon after as Ike Uche and Yakubu Aiyegbeni combined to split open the Ghanaian defence, but Yakubu wasted the opportunity shooting wide.
The Ghanaians continue to pressurise and found some joy on Nigeria’s right handside where the Eagle’s right back Obinna Nwaneri had a torrid time. Muntari in particular was a thorn in his flesh and in rash tackle in the 17 minute saw Nwaneri earn a yellow card.
Ghana’s dominance of the match continued for most of the first half with Owusu-Abeiye posing a constant threat and Asamoah Gyan hitting the upright . Nigeria did see some opportunites on the counter-attack and it was on one such move in the 33rd minute that saw Aiyegbeni and Uche create havoc in the Ghanaian defence and Anthony Annan bringing down Aiyegbeni in the Ghanaian Eighteen. The resultant penalty kick was coolly slotted up by Aiyegbeni and Nigeria were one up and the home crowd momentarily silenced.
Just when it seemed Nigeria were taking in a one nil lead into half time a freekick by Michael Essien found Owusu-Abeiye who easily beat Nwaneri and he floated a cross into the path of Essien’s run the resultant header flashed past Nigeria’s goalie Austin Ejide hitting the upright before rolling in for the equaliser sending the home crowd into a frenzy and the game into half time.
After the pace of the first half, the second half was a comparatively more measured affair with most of the action being focused on an midfield battle between Chelsea FC team mates John Mikel Obi and Essien. Nigeria seemed to be settling into the game and gradually getting an upper hand. In the 59th minute with Nigeria striker Osaze Odemwingie clear on goal Ghanaian captain John Mensah went in for a sliding tackle taking out his man and earning himself a red card. Ghana were down to ten men and facing an uphill battle.
Nigeria’s one man advantage began to count as Nigeria pushed for the winner with Odemwingie, Aiyegbeni and Uche all creating opportunities.
With ten minutes to go Ghanaian striker Junior Agogo was to break the hearts of 140 million Nigerians. He first missed a great chance shooting wide in front of goal, and then redeemed himself after Haminu Dramani’s good work on the right found Muntari in space and he slotted a beautifully weighted pass to an unmarked Agogo who made no mistake, slotting home the goal and taking Ghana 2-1 up. Nigeria had a last minute chance which fell for Yobo but the Ghanaian defence held firm for a famous victory and now look forward to either Cameroon or Tunisia in the Semi-finals.