Nigeria Set Up Ghana Semi
January 25, 2010
Nigeria Set Up Ghana Semi Zambia and Nigeria played out a largely dreary goalless draw in Lubango and needed a penalty shoot-out, the first of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, to decide the quarterfinal match.
Neither team was overly impressive during regulation time and this match lacked the drama and action of the three quarterfinal match-up's that preceded it.
Nigeria played almost the entire second half of extra time a man short when they had defender Onyekachi Apam sent off for a wreck less two footed challenge on Zambian substitute Emmanuel Mayuka in the 106th minute.
Despite playing a man short, Nigeria held on to take the match to a penalty shoot_out where they scored all five of their kicks.
Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was the Super Eagles shoot-out hero as he saved Thomas Nyirenda's kick and converted Nigeria's fifth to send them through to the semi finals at an Nations Cup tournament for the first time since 2004.
In regulation time it took a quarter of an hour for any of the goalkeepers to see their goal threatened, Mweene was the first into action but was hardly troubled as he got down to collect Dickson Etuhu's powerful shot from around 22 yards from goal.
It took another 15 for either team to threaten the opposition goal and it was Nigeria who were up in the Zambian penalty area when Yakubu was dispossessed of the ball again, but it fell to Mikel who belted the ball low and hard towards goal.
Mweene remained in the centre of his goal and then threw himself at the ball and made a one handed block pushing the ball to safety.
Zambia had hardly threatened the Nigerian goal in the first half in the rare occasions that they did the 'Copper Bullets' wasted them, Christopher Katonogo's 32nd minute header had no direction as he headed Jacob Mulenga's floated ball in from the lefty into the side netting.
In the final minute of the first half James Chamanga could not connect with Felix Katongo's low ground ball from the left when he was just a few yards from goal as he miss kicked the ball, letting a golden goal scoring chance float by.
A dreary first half ended goalless as both teams lacked the creative spark to have made pulled ahead in the opening forty five minutes, Zambia created the first chance of the second half when Felix Katongo drew Enyeama into making a save as he shot for goal from around 25 yards out.
Ten minutes after the restart and Zambia began asking questions of the Nigerian defence on two occasions, but could not drive home the pressure as Chris Katongo could not bring Mbola's dangerous cross under control in the 51st minute.
Seven minutes later Chamanga turned his marker on the left hand edge of the Nigerian 18 yard area but send his effort at goal way of the cross bar.
For the first time in the game there was an end to end movement it happened in the 66th minute, Himonde rose up to head a Zambian corner from the right towards goal his header beat Enyeama but Yusuf Mohamed came to the rescue for Nigeria clearing the ball off the line.
The Super Eagles quickly broke and eventually Obasi managed to loop the ball over the Zambian defence setting Yakubu clear on goal but the Nigerian skipper could not get the ball under control and the chance slipped away under his boots.
Zambia had reason to feel aggrieved in the 85th minute as they should have been awarded a penalty when Kaita had his hands around Mayuka and pulled him down inside the Nigeria penalty area; Mayuka was guilty of missing a gilt edge chance at goal in the final minute of normal time.
Still goalless after 90 minutes the match headed into extra time.
In extra time Zambia were given the upper hand when Nigeria's Apam was shown his marching orders in the 106th minute for a two footed lunge on Mayuka of Zambia, it was Apam's second bookable offence.
In an effort to make their numerical advantage count in the 108th minute The Copper Bullets created an opening for William Njobvu who unleashed a powerful shot at the Nigerian goal some 25 yards from goal, which had Enyeama jumping off the ground to get the faintest of touches to the ball to turn it out for a corner.
Two minutes before the end of extra time Mikel lifted the ball up and over the Zambian rear guard for Obafemi Martins, who chased the ball and from close to goal attempted a spectacular scissor-kick which went over Mweene.
With the teams deadlocked at 0-0 after 120 minutes it was off to the first penalty shoot out of the competition to see who would be facing Ghana in the semi-finals.
Zambia kicked off the shoot out and had Chivuta, Chris Katongo and Mayuka score but Nyirenda's kick was saved by Enyeama, even though Mweene was to convert Zambia's fifth kick it was not enough.
As Mikel, Martins, Nsofor, Odemwingie and Enyeama all converted their spot kicks to see Nigeria prevail 5-4 in the shoot out to set up a semi final meeting with Ghana.
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