Ghana Thump Chests After Win

By: Charles Nyende

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has defended his side’s tactics at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament saying only the final result mattered and matches had gone his way.

The Black Stars beat Nigeria 1-0 in the first semi-final at the Estadia 11 de Novembro on Thursday evening to sail into tomorrow’s final against Egypt, who blanked eight-man Algeria 4-0 in the second semi in Benguela later that evening.
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“We talked with each other and decided we would not try to play beautiful football. We would play for results,” the Serb said of their narrow victory over Nigeria.

Ghana struck once midway through the first half through Asamaoh Gyan’s header and proceeded to tenaciously defend the narrow lead. Similarly, during their 1-0 quarter-final victory against hosts Angola, they held on to an early Gyan goal.

Players constantly falling on the ground seemingly seriously injured, time wastage and wild ball clearance have all been part of the Ghanaians’ repertoire in Angola.

“We came to the tournament to compete. It is not about playing well; it is about winning the game and moving to the next stage,” added the former Red Star Belgrade coach.

The Super Eagles dominated the match for large spells in perhaps their best showing in Angola 2010 – but for the result.

Every reason to win

Obafemi Martins had three clear-cut chances but was on all occasions superbly denied by goalkeeper Richard Kingson, who was named Man of the Match.

“We had every reason to win this match. We dominated but just could not get it right. I thought with the chances Martins was getting it was just a matter of time before he nicked one. But it did not happen,” Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu lamented.

Amodu could not understand the loss: “I don’t think I lost to a better team. I have played tougher opponents to reach the semi-final stage. We had command of the game but it just did not go well for us.”
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Gyan stole to the edge of the six-yard box to head home Kwadwo Asamoah’s corner in the 20th minute but John Obi Mikel, Ayila Yussuf and Sani Kaita clearly out-muscled the young Ghanaians to dominate midfield and possession.

Service to Martins could not be translated past Kingson, who almost single-handedly kept Ghana in the tournament.

Peter Odemwingie’s 27th minute shot fell to an unmarked Martins inside the area but the Wolfsburg striker could not guide it past the inspired Kingson.

Then twice in the second half Kingson charged out to deny Martins, the Wigan keeper, palming away a lob and later using his foot to keep the Nigerian front runner away. Ogbuke Obasi also came close twice in the second half.

It is the second time that Ghana have eliminated their arch rivals Nigeria in the Nations Cup, having downed the Super Eagles 2-1 in the quarter-finals of the 2008 edition.