BAMAKO, Feb 4: Garba Lawal sent Nigeria into the last four of the African Nations Cup Sunday when his stunning long-range strike late in the game ended Ghana’s resistance and gave the Super Eagles a 1-0 quarterfinal win.

The Dutch-based midfielder met a weak Ghana clearance with a volley from 30 metres in the 80th minute to win the tie with possibly the best goal of the tournament.

The ball rocketed into the corner just as the game appeared to be heading for extra time.

Nigeria had created a hatful of chances but were kept at bay by valiant defending, some top-class goalkeeping from Sammy Adjei and their own poor finishing.

Adjei, who plays in Accra for Hearts of Oak, made excellent saves to turn away powerful drives from Finidi George and Sunny Oliseh in the first half.

Nigeria also wasted an excellent chance on the stroke of halftime when a quickly-taken free kick caught out Ghana’s defence but Julius Aghahowa headed over from close range after Joseph Yobo had crossed from the byline.

Ghana’s best chance fell to Isaac Boakye, who scored the two late goals which sank Burkina Faso on Tuesday and sent the Black Stars through, in the 25th minute.

A poor clearance by Isaac Okoronkwo went straight to Emmanuel Kuffour and he slipped the ball to Boakye, whose shot was blocked by Ike Shorunmo.

Shorunmo was then injured in a collision with his own defender making the save and taken off injured to be replaced by Malta-based Murphy Akanji.

Adjei pulled off two more excellent saves in quick succession, first blocking Lawal’s shot after he was set free by a slick move involving Nwankwu Kano and Austin Okocha, then from Okocha’s free kick three minutes later.

Ghana got another let-off in the 78th minute when Aghahowa broke down the left and crossed but Kano volleyed over with the goal at his mercy.

But Ghana’s resistance ended in the 80th minute with Larwal’s brilliant strike.

Collated results:

In Kayes:

Mali 2 South Africa 0

In Bamako:

Nigeria 1 Ghana 0

—Reuters