Stars pip Nigeria to make first finals in 18 years

The Black Stars of Ghana piped bitter rivals Nigeria 1-0 to qualify for their first African nations final in 18 years.

A stupendous Asamoah Gyan header in the 20th minute ended any hope of a Nigerian revenge having suffered two successive defeats in the hands of the Black Stars in two years.

It was far from a vintage performance by the Black Stars but they were resilient in defence and kept a rather sleepy Nigerian attack led by Obafemi Martins silent.

The game was highly physical with the Nigerians having the better of the exchanges and dictating the pace for most part of the game but the striking department was anonymous.

Milovan Rajevac was forced to make changes to Opoku Agyemang and Hans Adu Sarpei after they suffered injuries early in the game changing the chemistry of the Stars game.

But in the 20th minute, Kwodwo Asamoah delivered a fabulous corner which was superbly connected at close range by striker Asamoah Gyan who took his goal tally to three from four matches.

Kwodwo Asamoah had early on dazzled his way through two Nigerian defence but his cross was intercepted for a corner which eventually ended in the lone goal.

Four minutes later Asamoah Gyan nearly caught Enyeama asleep with a lovely chip from 30 yards and that was just about the end of the Stars story in attack, at least for the first half.

More soon;