Ghana are through to the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations after a 2-0 win over Morocco in Accra yesterday. Michael Essien, the Chelsea midfield player, was at the heart of the success, scoring the first goal and setting up Sulley Muntari, of Portsmouth, for the second.

With Guinea booking the other place in the last eight from group A, after their 1-1 draw with Namibia in Sekondi, defeat put Morocco out in the group stage for the second successive tournament.

Ghana’s third straight win, after beating Guinea 3-1 and Namibia 1-0, was watched by a near-capacity crowd at the 45,000-seat Ohene Djan Stadium. Their reward as group winners is a quarter-final in Accra on Sunday against the runners-up of group B, where Nigeria, perennial favourites, must beat Benin and hope that Mali lose to Ivory Coast, the leaders, if they are to avoid an early exit.

Ghana were without Laryea Kingston, the influential Heart of Midlothian midfield player, who was suspended after receiving his second caution. In Kingston’s absence, Claude Le Roy, the coach, chose Anthony Annan.

Henri Michel, the Morocco coach, made four changes to the team who lost to Guinea, including a switch of goalkeepers, with Khalid Fouhami making way for Nadir Lamyaghri.

Ghana went into attacking mode from the start, Essien leading the charge from midfield. After 15 minutes, Lamyaghri had to be sharp to deal with a 30-yard free kick from Muntari, but the host nation took a deserved lead 11 minutes later when Muntari flighted a free kick from the right for Essien to volley past Lamyaghri.

Morocco had the ball in the net shortly after with a little help from John Paintsil, but the West Ham United defender’s blushes were spared because the referee had blown for a foul.

Ghana capped a fine first half with their second goal in stoppage time, Essien charging through midfield to flick the ball on for Muntari to shoot from the left of the penalty area.

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