A first-half goal from Asamoah Gyan helped Ghana beat Angola 1-0 to reach the African Cup of Nations semi finals and eliminate the tournament hosts on Sunday. The Stade Rennes striker scored the winner one minute after the quarter-hour mark as Ghana booked a last-four berth for the second consecutive time, having finished third in the 2008 tournament on home soil. Angola's Portuguese coach Manuel Jose, whose father died aged 94 before the game, was greeted by the home crowd despite his side's elimination. Ghana will face the winners of Monday's quarter-final game between Nigeria and Zambia. The Black Stars played without several key players including Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien, who will miss the rest of the tournament after suffering a knee injury. Angola were boosted by the return of in-form striker Flavio, who shook off an injury in time to feature in the game. Early Goal Ghana, who played with a lone striker in Gyan, dominated the early exchanges. The lively Gyan saw his curling free-kick goes narrowly wide early in the game before his efforts paid dividends on 16 minutes. Kwadwo Asamoah's superb long ball from his own half found the 24-year-old striker, who outpaced Angola defender Kali and fired a low shot into the bottom corner. Angola piled on pressure to grab the equalizer but Ghana's tight defense made life difficult for them. Wingers Gilberto and Mabina were unable to provide crosses for Flavio, who scored three goals in the tournament via trademark headers, after Ghana's full-backs Samuel Inkoom and Hans Sarpei closed down spaces at the back. Angola still created some chances to level the score but the disappointing Manucho, who partnered Flavio upfront, wasted them. He headed straight into the keeper's hands after being found unmarked by a Flavio cross and fired wide with the goal at his mercy just before the break. Ghana defended in numbers in the second half to keep their lead intact, frustrating Angola forwards. Gyan was substituted two minutes past the hour mark after sustaining an injury, making way for Mathew Amoah. Jose introduced Job instead of Stelvio to add impetus but Angola couldn't find the breakthrough. A free header from Manucho went wide after a left-wing cross from Job but Angola came closest deep in stoppage time when a last-ditch interception from Ghana defender Isaac Vorsah prevented a loose ball from crossing the goal-line.
