Ghana will meet Cape Verde in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations after qualifying for the last eight with a 3-0 thumping of Niger on Monday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The Black Stars will stay in Port Elizabeth for the last eight clash on Saturday, February 2 against the Nations Cup debutants who finished runners-up from Group A.
Captain Asamoah Gyan gave Ghana the lead on 6 minutes, scoring his first at this year’s competition before a crowd of 13,864.
Ghana doubled their lead when Christian Atsu registered his tournament debut in the 23rd minute before John Boye made it 3-nil after the break with a simple tap-in from a yard out to secure top spot in Group B.
In a contest where Ghana dominated either half, Gyan got the opener after he took a pass in the box from Albert Adomah and let goal a shot which went under the arms of Niger goalkeeper Daouda Kassaly.
Four minutes later, Niger’s Ghana-born Kofi Dankwa got the ball into the net but referee Diatta Badara ruled it out for a foul on Ghana goalkeeper Fatau Dauda by captain Moussa Maazou.
Ghana got the second in the 23rd minute when Atsu controlled a cross from Gyan in the box, shrugged off a challenged and poked the ball into the far corner to end the first half.
It could have been three for the Black Stars but Agyemang Badu saw his shot from a beautiful Kwadwo Asamoah pass palmed out for a corner.
Both sides returned from the break with Niger pushing for a goal but it was Ghana who came close and four minutes into the restart, the Black Stars scored.
John Boye latched onto a spilled ball by Daouda Kassaly from a saved Gyan header and tapped home from a yard away in the 49th minute.
Ghana also most made it four when Asamoah slid a pass which went through the legs of Niger’s Kofi Dankwa but was cleared for a corner.
Maazou got to the end of a cross but failed to direct his header into the post after he was left unmarked and again in the 59th minute, he failed to keep his shot from a knock down low.
Gyan had two good efforts to score when his half-volley went wide from five-yards with the goal at his mercy and a feeble effort from inside the box was easily collected by Kassaly.
Ghana’s first change saw Albert Adomah making way for Solomon Asante in the 62nd minute. Ten minutes later, the second change was made with Derek Boateng taking over Rabiu Mohammed.
Emmanuel Clottey, last season’s African Champions League top scorer came on to make his debut, replacing Gyan in the 77th minute. John Paintsil took over the captainship duties and ensured that Ghana’s defence of Boye, Isaac Vorsah, and Harrison Afful continued working hard.
The tempo of the final ten minutes of the showdown in Port Elizabeth dipped with Ghana, having a comfortable lead, deciding to enjoy more possession.
In the other group game, Mali drew 1-1 with DR Congo to qualify with Ghana. Mali will meet hosts South Africa in the next round.