Match ends, Ghana 3, Guinea 0.
Ghana 3-0 Guinea
- From the section Football
Ghana eased into their fifth consecutive Africa Cup of Nations semi-final by beating a poor Guinea.
Christian Atsu set them on their way after only four minutes, stroking in from Andre Ayew's clever backheel.
Guinea gifted Ghana a second when Baissama Sankoh horribly sliced a clearance and Kwesi Appiah ran clean though on goal to slot home.
Atsu made it 3-0 after the hour, coming in from the right touchline to strike an outrageous shot into the top corner.
The match was a stark contrast to the drama of Saturday's quarter-finals, in which DR Congo and Equatorial Guinea came from behind to win - the latter in controversial circumstances.
From the start of this game there was only going to be one winner as Ghana barely had to break sweat to defeat Guinea, who had qualified for the last eight through the drawing of lots at the expense of Mali.
The Black Stars made a fast start and they cut Guinea apart on the right flank as Appiah fed Ayew and his backheeled cross was converted by Atsu from eight yards out.
Even at that early stage, Guinea's body language and energy indicated this was a game too far for a team that had lost their past three Nations Cup quarter-finals.
Ghana, who are seeking their fifth title and first since 1982, took their time to make the superiority tell - seemingly content to play within themselves in the face of a non-existent threat from their opponents.
In fact, Guinea proved more dangerous to themselves just before half-time when centre-back Sankoh made a howler of what should have been a routine clearance, slicing the ball into the path of Crystal Palace forward Appiah, who ran on to the ball and comfortably fired past keeper Naby Yattara.
Sixteen minutes after the restart Ghana made certain of the victory in some style as Chelsea winger Atsu pulled off an audacious cross-shot from the right flank, sending the ball over Yattara and into the far top corner of the goal.
From then on it was a procession for Avram Grant's men, who appeared to be saving themselves for a meeting with tournament hosts Equatorial Guinea on Thursday.
Guinea's disappointing day was made worse in stoppage time when goalkeeper Yattara clattered Asamoah Gyan outside the box and was sent off for the reckless challenge.
Line-ups
Ghana
- 1Brimah
- 23Afful
- 21Boye
- 19Mensah
- 17Baba
- 6AcquahSubstituted forRabiuat 86'minutes
- 11Wakaso
- 7AtsuSubstituted forAcheampongat 79'minutes
- 2Appiah
- 10A Ayew
- 3Gyan
Substitutes
- 4Gyimah
- 5Awal
- 8Badu
- 9J Ayew
- 12Sowah
- 13Rabiu
- 14Asante
- 15Otoo
- 16Dauda
- 18Amartey
- 20Accam
- 22Acheampong
Guinea
- 1YattaraBooked at 90mins
- 13Cissé
- 5CamaraBooked at 49mins
- 20Sankoh
- 23PayeBooked at 90mins
- 17FofanaBooked at 70mins
- 8Traoré
- 12Conte
- 10ConstantBooked at 21minsSubstituted forKeitaat 56'minutes
- 7Razzagui CamaraSubstituted forKamanoat 81'minutes
- 11SyllaSubstituted forYattaraat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Yattara
- 3Sylla
- 6Zayatte
- 9Landel
- 14Camara
- 15Keita
- 16Keita
- 18Soumah
- 19Kamano
- 21Diarra
- 22Camara
- Referee:
- Janny Sikazwe
Match Stats
Home TeamGhanaAway TeamGuinea
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away0
- Corners
- Home1
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away22
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ghana 3, Guinea 0.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Asamoah Gyan (Ghana) because of an injury.
Dismissal
Naby-Moussa Yattara (Guinea) is shown the red card.
Foul by Naby-Moussa Yattara (Guinea).
Asamoah Gyan (Ghana) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. André Ayew (Ghana) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Frank Acheampong.
Attempt blocked. Ibrahima Traoré (Guinea) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Naby Keita.
(Guinea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Razak Brimah (Ghana).
Corner, Guinea. Conceded by John Boye.
Foul by Djibril Paye (Guinea).
Harrison Afful (Ghana) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Booking
Djibril Paye (Guinea) is shown the yellow card.
Corner, Guinea. Conceded by Mohammed Rabiu.
Ibrahima Conte (Guinea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Mubarak Wakaso (Ghana).
Foul by Boubacar Fofana (Guinea).
Kwesi Appiah (Ghana) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Boubacar Fofana (Guinea).
Kwesi Appiah (Ghana) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Ghana. Mohammed Rabiu replaces Afriyie Acquah.
Foul by Abdoulaye Cissé (Guinea).
André Ayew (Ghana) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Baissama Sankoh (Guinea).
Kwesi Appiah (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Francois Kamano (Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Abdul Baba (Ghana).
Offside, Ghana. Afriyie Acquah tries a through ball, but Kwesi Appiah is caught offside.
Corner, Ghana. Conceded by Abdoulaye Cissé.
Substitution
Substitution, Guinea. Francois Kamano replaces Razzagui.
Foul by Boubacar Fofana (Guinea).
Abdul Baba (Ghana) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Ghana. Frank Acheampong replaces Christian Atsu.
Attempt missed. Asamoah Gyan (Ghana) header from the right side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Harrison Afful with a cross.
Hand ball by André Ayew (Ghana).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Christian Atsu (Ghana) because of an injury.
Attempt blocked. Ibrahima Conte (Guinea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Razzagui.