The answers to those questions began to take shape as the quarterfinal round began on Sunday with Ghana's Black Stars overcoming a red card to captain John Mensah to beat the Nigeria Super Eagles 2-1 on another game-winning goal from Junior Agogo. Ghana dominated possession for much of the first half and, having won their group undefeated and untied, were clear favorites in front of the home crowd in Accra. Meanwhile, Nigeria had been woeful in the group stage and their German coach Berti Vogts had already been ordered to resign by the Nigerian press.
That said, Ghana's center of defense were exposed on numerous occasions in the first half and the industrious Yakubu threatened with his speed and power if not his skill. Ten minutes before halftime, Yakubu was felled messily in the box by Eric Addo and he slotted home the spot kick just inside the left post. 1-0 Nigeria.
The momentum changed with the goal. At
The Globe Pub in Chicago, the only place where you can watch the live feed on the Algerian satellite television network broadcasting the tournament, the Nigerians found their singing voices to the tune of John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance."
"All we are saying is we go score goal!"
The Ghanaians were awfully quiet on their side, which made me believe the stadium in Accra had gone similarly quiet. Happiness came back again in injury time when Michael Essien latched onto a lazy curling cross and mashed a perfect header off the post and in. 1-1.
Ten minutes after halftime Nigeria were played through clear behind the Ghanaian defense and Mensah had no choice but to accept the red card with a goal-saving foul. He took his shirt off on the way off the pitch and his physique caused a breathy gasp in a female fan stationed close to me. A tackle like that is an instantaneous if momentous decision, and only the result of the game can serve to judge its success.
Nigeria had trouble establishing possession in the midfield throughout the game and after they went up a man, they stopped marking as well. Agogo worked very hard as a lone target up top and it was a just reward for him and a just result for Ghana when he scored the go ahead goal from close range after a good effort from Sully Muntari produced a back post cross. A Nigerian fan on the way out of the pub claimed that he had just witnessed the worst Nigerian team ever assembled for international competition. How far the Super Eagles have fallen.
In the other semi-final Ivory Coast beat up on Guinea 5-0. The score was unfair because the first half of the game was tight with Guinea's Bangoura creating numerous chances before the Chelsea duo of Drogba and Kalou put the game away with a second half flurry. Ivory Coast has been the best team in the tournament defensively with Boka, Eboue, Toure, and Meite in the back, and they have talent all over the field. They will meet Egypt in a re-match of the last African Cup of Nations final, in a game that arguably will pit the team's two best-organized teams against one another. The Pharaohs dispatched the surprising Angolans 2-1 on Monday morning, benefiting from a fair amount of luck on a deflected shot and some rock solid team defending. Manucho of Manchester United and Angola was one of the best players in the tournament.
In the last quarterfinal Cameroon survived a thriller with Tunisia, winning 3-2 in extra time. The Indomitable Lions jumped to a 2-0 lead after a headed goal from Mbia in the 19th minute and a quality free kick from Geremi in the 27th. But Tunisia remained slick in possession of the ball and Ben Saada beat keeper Kameni at the near post with a free kick to pull back in the 34th minute.
The second half was sloppy and increasingly testy. Cameroon squandered well-constructed attacks and gave the ball away too easily in the middle of the field. An equalizing goal seemed inevitable but the game had gone to 80 minutes before it came off the foot of the impressive Chikhaoui. He took a cut back cross first time and curled it to the opposite post. 2-2.
Cameroon scored almost immediately in extra time, a fine finish from Mbia after a series of back flicks found him free around the spot. It seemed a tall order for Tunisia to find another equalizer but they had their chances. Cameroon is ever dangerous to opponents with Eto'o and Mbia up top but they seem a bit dangerous to themselves in the back at times. They will plays hosts Ghana in the second semi-final on Thursday and the Black Stars will be favorites in spite of the absence of captain Mensah in the back. Essien will likely wear the armband and you don't have to watch much of him for Ghana to realize that if Lampard were gone Chelsea might have an even more dangerous marauding midfielder in their attack.
Prediction: Ghana and Ivory Coast in a gala final taken by the hosts. Black Stars 2, Mighty Elephants 1.
As the African Cup of Nations enters its final week, the legacy of this year's tournament in Ghana is still to be determined. Will the Egyptians defend their title and continue the run of North African dominance? Or will the mighty West African nations-Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria-whose teams have emptied Europe's top flight club teams of their most dangerous players, finally fulfill their promise as footballing powers in international competition?