Defeated Nigeria manager Berti Vogts kept his cards close to his chest when facing the media after his side’s 2-1 defeat to Ghana.

Vogts presided over a Super Eagles team that failed to score in its opening two matches and was already feeling the pressure of an expectant Nigeria contingent.

But after his side failed to hold a 1-0 lead against Ghana and could not find a winner against 10-men the German was reserved.

“We made mistakes and you can’t do that in international football,” Vogts said.

“All I can do is offer my congratulations to Ghana.”

Ghana’s winning goal came after Obinna Nwaneri was beaten on the right flank by Haminu Draman.

Nwaneri stood off Draman and did not make an attempt for the ball until the Ghana substitute moved first.

“In the match against Ivory Coast we had problems on the right side as well,” Vogts said.

“Obinna is a very experienced player.

“He is there for the tussle but got beaten in a one-on-one situation. That is all.”

Nigeria striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni opened the scoring for the Super Eagles with a first-half penalty.

“Today we showed character,” he said.

“I think the team is getting better and we can look forward to the journey of qualifying for the World Cup.”

Ghana has overcome the sending-off of captain John Mensah to defeat Nigeria 2-1 and book a place in the African Cup of Nations semi-finals.

The Black Stars came back from a goal down as well as a man down to see off its arch rival.

A goal with eight minutes remaining from Junior Agogo gave Ghana victory after the scores were level 1-1 at half time.

Ghana played the last half-hour of the match with 10 men after captain Mensah was issued a straight red card by referee Benouza Mohamed for a challenge on Peter Odemwingie as the last man.

But Ghana had already been outplaying Nigeria before Mensah’s dismissal and after weathering a period of pressure, pressed on to find a winner.

Substitute Haminu Draman beat Obinna Nwaneri on the left flank in a one-on-one to put Sulley Ali Muntari into space on the edge of the area.

Muntari then fired a cross through the six-yard box to an unmarked Agogo at the back post for a tap-in finish.

Nigeria had opened the scoring against the run of play in the first half when Eric Addo bought down Ikechukwu Uche to concede a penalty.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni scored low to the left to give Nigeria a 35th minute lead.

But a Michael Essien header on the stroke of half-time sent Ghana in on level terms. Nigeria’s best chance to re-take the lead in the second half came from the free kick conceded by Mensah’s sending-off.

Goalkeeper Richard Kingson acrobatically saved from Taiwo Taye to keep the scores 1-1.

Despite having a man advantage, Nigeria was unable to make it count after falling behind.

The Super Eagles had half-chances in the final stages but failed to force Kingson into a save.

Ghana now progresses to the semi-final while Nigeria is out.

Nigeria avoided elimination at the hands of Mali but its destiny is out of its control after a 0-0 draw in Sekondi tonight.

In a game that played out like a typical scoreless match, both sides were limited to half-chances save a brief spell in the late stages.

If Ivory Coast beats Mali in its final group game, Nigeria can still progress to the knockout stage of the tournament with a 2-0 win or better.

But having not scored in two games the writing is on the wall for the Super Eagles.

In the 79th minute the Nigerians thought they had finally broken the duck when Yakubu Aiyegbeni turned in a scrap from close range.

But the offisde flag was raised to deny Nigeria and Mali took the disallowed goal as a warning.

With a left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 82nd minute Seydou Keita had Austine Ejide beaten all ends up but hit the crossbar.

John Obi Mikel then flashed a shot of his own across the face of the Mali goal just a minute later.

In the last minute of stoppage time Fredi Kanoute scuffed a shot on the turn, typical of the night of half-chances the strikers were afforded.

Kanu remained on the bench for the full game for Nigeria with Ikechukwu Uche the preferred substition.

But no combinations are working for Nigeria at the minute, with fans and press alike believing the Super Eagles to be already eliminated from the tournament.