Ghana came from behind to earn a semi-final place with victory over Nigeria in a game full of drama.
Nigeria took the lead on 34 minutes through a Yakubu penalty, but Michael Essien's glancing header put the Black Stars level on the stroke of half-time.
Ghana were reduced to 10 men on the hour, as captain John Mensah was sent off for a professional foul.
But Ghana continued to attack, and with eight minutes remaining, Junior Agogo's close-range finish gave them victory.
Ghana had the upper hand for most of the first half, which was a scrappy, physical affair.
The first clear chance fell to Nigeria on 11 minutes when winger Ikechukwu Uche went on a bustling run and set up Yakubu, who fired wide.
Nigeria defender Joseph Yobo almost put the ball in his own net three minutes later, as he cut out a Sulley Muntari cross.
Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan hit the post with a left-footer on 25 minutes, and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie's lively play persistently troubled Nigeria.
The Black Stars were still on top when they conceded the penalty, Eric Addo pulling Yakubu down.
The Everton striker stroked the spot-kick into the bottom-left corner, with Richard Kingson going the right way.
Ghana were down for the first time in the tournament, and faced a huge test of character.
The equaliser came with the last move of the first period, Owusu's cross was met with a glancing header by Essien.
The ball went in off the left post, and trickled along the goal line before going in.
The atmosphere at half-time was astonishing, with Ghana fans celebrating as if they had won the Nations Cup itself.
Nigeria came very close three minutes after the break, a 40-yard lob by Uche was pushed over the bar by a back-pedalling Kingson.
But Ghana remained in the ascendancy overall, with the crowd roaring on their every move.
The drama heightened when Mensah was sent off in the 60th minute for clipping down Osaze Odemwingie as he raced towards the penalty area.
Three Nigeria efforts were stopped from the resulting free-kick, but the Super Eagles failed to capitalise of their numerical advantage.
Ghana resisted the temptation to play for extra time and penalties, and the winner came on 82 minutes.
Muntari crossed inside the box to the unmarked Agogo, who finished from four yards out.
Nigeria were unable to respond, and Ghana beat them for only the second time at the Nations Cup, in what was a memorable match.


http://naijanet.com/news/source/2008/feb/3/1000.html

I am surprised at the outburst of sport loving Nigerians, I know the loss to the Black stars of Ghana is painful but in my own view we do not deserve to win.
A man who fail to plan, definitely is planning to fail, victory over Ghana would have been a reward for mediocrity because in my opinion the super eagles I saw lacked the bite of champions, no ambition, no initiative, no bite, no fire power and above the head of the technical crew lacked in-depth tactical know how needed in today's football.
I told people after our first match that I do not see a winning team, but people said the first defeat was a slip. Salomon kalou's goal against Nigeria what transpired outside the 18 yard box played itself against Ghana, but the Captain employed his initiative by hacking Odemwengie the best player on the field of play (my view) and took a red card, while our own Olofinjana my town's man raised up his hands and allowed salomon kalou to daze them.
The midfield, in the midfield we lacked a mid fielder that could hold on to the ball an create space, we missed JayJay, in the attack we lacked pace and fire power, Uncle Yakubu, was running like a pregnant woman could not fight for ball, forget the penalty and lets face fact.
The Technical crew, it is amazing that the NFA is yet to announce the sack of Vogts, I could not understand our formation, the first match against the elephants Mr. Berti Vogts played up to six attackers if not more than in a single match, I expected the NFA to ask him to step down for Egouavon to take over, to add insult to injury the man failed to accept the fact that he failed, he said after the Ghana match " I am very disappointed that we lost, but you saw that the Ghanaian team had a lot more experience players. Most of them played at the world cup. We can hold our heads up, because we gave 100% today" that was the words of world class coach Vogts.
Officiating, bad officiating is the song of losers but I will say here that the officiating was not fair enough,
My conclusion, the contractors at the NFA Glass house should not see football as a conduit pipe to embezzle money, there is the need to employ foreign sports administrators not coach now 'cause the NFA board members are incompetent, I think the NFA needs to apologize to Nigerians for the high blood pressure they gave to we poor fans. I think they need a psychologist in that team, let the old guys go infuse the Holland under 21 and the under 17 boys into the team, well bunch of them are old men too. may God save our football.