Jubilant Cameroon coach Otto Pfister could not help but criticise Ghana's assumptive media as he left Ohene Djan Stadium tonight.

Casually striding the press area in jeans, Pfister talked the talk after his Indomitable Lions walked the walk with a 1-0 win to eliminate host Ghana.

Pfister claimed his side was not shown respect by Ghana's adoring media contingent.

"They said the Ghana team was the best in the world!" Pfister said.

"But you have to play football before you win the cup.

"I always show my opponents respect.

"There was too much pressure on [Ghana's] boys."

Pfister said the hero-status of Michael Essien in particular would have had mental ramifications in the Black Stars' camp.

"If everybody always says Essien is a champion then one day he believes it.

"If you always say to a boy 'this is batman, this is batman' then he believes it.

"I see the television stations always saying 'we are the champion' before the game."

Pfister said his team had played normally and followed his tactics perfectly.

"I think we played slower today and showed good fitness," he said.

Man-of-the-match Alex Song played in central midfield and was in for special praise from his coach.

"Alexandre Song, the way he plays is amazing," Pfister said.

"For me he is a wonder."

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.

Host Ghana is through to the quarter final of the African Cup of Nations after a 2-0 win over Morocco gave it top spot in Group A.

Goals from midfield powerhouse Michael Essien and Sulley Ali Muntari sealed victory for the Black Stars.  

The hosts lived up to the expectations of the Accra crowd with two first-half goals giving it an unassailable lead.

Ghana came into the game needing just a draw to progress while Guinea's 1-1 draw with Namibia has eliminated Morocco.

In the 27th minute a clever chip free-kick from John Pantsil caught the Morocco defence flat-footed and Michael Essien slid in to score.

With the pressure squarely on the Moroccans to make the play Essien exploited the defence a second time in as many minutes as his weaving run and shot hit the side netting.

With a draw good enough for Ghana the game was sealed on the stroke of half-time with Muntari's goal.

This time it was Essien who provided, his forward run and dinking pass into the path of Muntari giving his fellow midfielder the time and space to poke home for 2-0.

In the second half Morocco failed to penetrate a solid Ghana backline with John Mensah and Eric Addo dominant.

Ghana's best chance for a goal after the break came in the 74th minute when a bursting run from Junior Agogo down the right touchline gave him the space to cross to Asamoah Gyan.

But the beleaguered striker found a way to head into the desperate hands of Morocco goalkeeper Nadir Lamyaghri from close range and the ball was scrambled away.

In the night's other game Guinea secured progression in Sekondi with a 1-1 draw against Namibia.

Both goals came in the second half with Soulemayne Youla scoring for Guinea and Brian Brendell for Namibia.  

Teo Pellizzeri, Accra Stadium