Nigeria Beat Ghana Again, Qualify For Final

The Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Black Stars of Ghana rekindled their rivalry on the continent today in the ongoing WAFU Cup tournament but it was the Nigerians who carried the day after 119 minutes of the tension-soaked second semi-final match.

The match played at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, Southwest Nigeria, ended 1-1 at regulation time before going into extra time.

Both sides missed several scoring chances in the first half. Nigeria eventually won the match by 2-1.

It was the Ghanaians who drew the first blood from the spot kick in the 67th minute through Daniel Gyamfi.

Gege Soriola had fouled a Ghanaian in the 18-yard box and the centre referee pointed straight to the penalty spot.

The tempo of the match increased with the Nigerians going in search of the equaliser but they couldn’t get it until the 83rd minute when Warri Wolves’ Ehigho Ehiosun, who had a brace and taking his goal tally to four, capitalised on a defensive error of the Ghanaians to get the equaliser.

The Black Stars, who couldn’t contain the superior power of the Nigerians managed to keep scores at 1-1 until the game dragged into extra time.

The Super Eagles had the chance to wrap up the game but Stanley Okoronkwo couldn’t convert the penalty that was awarded to Nigeria after brace hero Ehiosun was brought down inside the 18-yard box.

The match saw seven players going into the bad books of the referee. The decider however came through Ehiosun, who took on two Black Stars player before coming face-to-face with Ghanaian goalkeeper, Daniel Adjei and firing a shot into the right-hand corner of the goalpost.

The coach Samson Siasia-led side will now confront the Hawks of Togo in the final match on Saturday. Togo had earlier defeated the Leone Stars of Liberia 4-2 in the first semi-final match played at the same venue today.