adminThe result saw the Black Stars claim top spot in Group B and set up a quarter-final meeting with debutants Cape Verde, who were the surprise qualifiers from Group A alongside hosts South Africa.
Ghana got off to a flying start and opened the scoring as early as the sixth minute.
Albert Adomah picked out Asamoah Gyan from the right flank and the Black Stars striker buried a low shot into the back of the net to make it 1-0.
Three minutes later Niger thought they had levelled the scores through Issiaka Koudize, who took advantage of a loose ball in the penalty area from a corner kick, but Moussa Maazou was harshly adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper Fatau Dauda.
Gyan, a notable striker of the dead ball, had a chance to double Ghana’s lead midway through the first half from a free kick, but his curling effort was comfortably handled by Niger’s Daouda Kassaly.
Yet just a minute later youngster Chris Atsu marked his first start of the tournament with a well-taken goal, chesting down a Gyan cross before stabbing the ball into the corner to make it 2-0 and put the Black Stars on course for an easy three points.
A couple of minutes before the break, Kassaly was called upon to make a sharp save at his near post from a low shot by Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu. The halftime whistle saw Ghana 2-0 up and well in control of the match.
It took the four-time Afcon champions just four minutes of the second half to make the score 3-0. Gyan was again at the heart of the goal, heading on target from a free kick — Kassaly couldn’t hold the ball and defender John Boye swept it home from close range.
Niger reacted well to the third goal and proceeded to create several scoring chances of their own, but they were unable to really test Dauda. His only notable action was a comfortable save to keep out a free kick from Niger substitute Boubacar Issoufou.
Meanwhile, Mali recovered from conceding an early goal to draw 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday and book an Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final date with hosts South Africa.
Dieumerci Mbokani converted an early penalty as the Congolese made a dream start only for Mahamadou Samassa to level later in the first quarter and the match petered out into a tame draw.
It was the first time in seven appearances at the competition with four countries that France-born DR Congo coach Claude Le Roy failed to make the knockout stage.
There was no need for a calculator or a degree in mathematics to work out what the teams required from this game to make the last eight — a draw would suffice for the Malians while the Congolese had to win.
The Congolese made three changes from the team surprisingly held goalless by Niger four days ago with Peterborough United defender Gabriel Zakuani, Yves Diba and Alain Kaluyituka promoted.
Mali coach Patrice Carteron was even bolder, axing four of the team that started in a 1-0 loss to Ghana and bringing in Molla Wague, Samba Sow, West Ham striker Modibo Maiga and Mahamadou Samassa.
The Congolese could not have wished for a better start with veteran Tresor LuaLua Lomana foiled by the woodwork just 20 seconds into the first half and Mbokani converting a third-minute penalty.
Mali were all at sea in the opening minutes before a fair-size crowd at Moses Mabhida Stadium and former Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Lamine Sissoko tripped Diba for the penalty which Mbokani fired high into the right corner.
Goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba — at 37 the oldest player in this tournament — celebrated the lead in traditional style by using his bottom to bounce across the pitch with arms raised in front.
But comical defending allowed the Eagles to equalise on 14 minutes as the Leopards fluffed two attempts to clear the ball inside the box and it was cut back for Samassa to hammer home from close range.
The second half was a dreary affair with defences on top and the Congolese growing increasingly desperate for the second goal that would take them into the knockout phase.
Mali did come close to scoring twice in as many minutes as a Kalilou Traore header flew just wide off a corner and then another substitute, Cheick Tidiane Diabate, rounded Kidiaba only to see his shot go wide off the post.—Supersport.
Online Reporter