Ghana defeated Nigeria 4-1 to retain the WAFU Nations Cup on Sunday.
Abingah, then Sarfo again scored from the penalty spot in the 60th and 77th minutes respectively.
However, Abingah, who had been booked early on in the game, was called in for a second bookable offense and he was sent off on 91 minutes.
Playing with 10-men, two minutes later, Maxwell Konadu’s men still managed to sneak one more goal in.
Cobbinah tapped in Ghana’s fourth from inside the box after Nigeria’s goalie Ikechukwu Ezenwa fumbled a shot and his defender failed to clear.
But, Nigeria did get a consolation in added time, with Rabiu Ali converting one of many free kicks the Eagles won after the sending off.
Earlier in the tournament, Two second-half goals from Nigerian league top scorer Tony Okpotu and Peter Eneji secured Nigeria a 2-0 victory over hosts Ghana and a place in the semifinals of the West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations on Monday night.
Ghana had been assured of a first-place finish in Group A after victories over Guinea and Mali in their first two games but their sub-regional arch-rivals, Nigeria needed maximum points after draws in their opening two games.
Ghana thus secured back to back titles and picked the $100,000 prize money, while Nigeria who finished second got $50,000.
Earlier in the day, Niger defeated Benin Republic 2-1 to win bronze and $25,000 prize money.
Ghana vs Nigeria on any day at any level in international football is a cracker and a giant-screen classic, the two teams meet in the WAFU Cup final on Sunday.
The final of the WAFU Cup will feature those two great rivals, Nigeria and the hosts Ghana.
Nigeria coach Salisu Yusuf praised the efficiency of his team as they beat hosts Ghana 2-0 on Monday, September 18 in their last Group A match to reach the last four of the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations.
Second half goals from Anthony Okpotu and Peter Moses handed Nigeria a 2-0 win over Ghana in their final Group A game of the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations at Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Monday, September 18 and consequently a place in the semifinals of the competition.
The Super Eagles started the Wafu game fast and created their first chance on goal in the sixth minute when John Friday intercepted a bad back pass and was left with just the keeper to beat, but he fluffed his shot wide.
A minute later Ghana suffered a big set-back when Isaac Twum left the field injured and was replaced by Ahmed Adams.
Nigeria continued to boss the game and almost scored in the 13th minute when Anthony Okpotu broke behind Black Stars defence and even beat the keeper with his shot, but defender Vincent Atingah made it back to clear the ball off the goalline.
Three minutes later Peter Moses was on the attack for the Super Eagles when he drove into the box from the right flank, beating two defenders before seeing his 14-yard shot superbly saved by the keeper.
On the half hour Ghana finally created their first scoring opportunity when Emmanuel Lomotey met a corner with a strong header, but his effort skimmed the wrong side of the crossbar.
Ten minutes later Felix Addo muscled his way into space inside the Nigerian box, but saw his ten-yard strike well-saved by the Ghanaian shot-stopper.
The half ended 0-0.
Eight minutes into the second half Nigeria took the lead when Anthony Okpotu showed great strength to hold his marker off to get on the end of a through ball and clinically fired home from six-yards out, 1-0.
Three minutes later the Super Eagles doubled their lead courtesy of a thunderous 20-yard strike from Peter Moses which found the corner of the net, 2-0.
Ghana tried to find their way back into the match, but struggled to penetrate the Nigerian defence.
The Black Stars did almost score in the 72nd minute when Emmanuel Lomotey unleashed a powerful long-range free-kick, but his effort was brilliantly saved by the keeper.
That was as close as Ghana came to finding a goal as Nigeria won the game 2-0 and with it progressed into the semifinals of the WAFU competition along with the Black Stars.
With the other Group A game between Mali and Guinea ending 1-1 at the Nduom Sports Stadium it leaves Ghana top of the standings with six points, followed by Nigeria with five points.
Guinea and Mali were left with two points apiece in third and fourth place respectively.
Ghana (0) 0
Nigeria (0) 2 (Okpotu 53’, P Moses 56’)
Teams
Ghana coach: Maxwell Konadu
Ghana: 1. J Addo, 2. Frimpong, 12. S Safro, 5. Atingah, 4. Ampiah (17. Razak 46’), 9. F Addo, 18. Lomotey, 7. Twum (14. Adams 7’), 10. Cobbina, 8. Waja (11. Kelvin 61’), 15. K Safro.
Nigeria coach: Salisu Yusuf
Nigeria: 1. Ezenwa, 2. Okoro, 6. Eze, 12. Aniyikaye, 3. Akas, 4. Aremu, 8. Ifeanyi, 7. Friday (15. Mathias 82’), 11. P Moses, 10. Ali, 9. Okpotu (14. Okechukwu 77).
Ghana and Nigeria will renew their rivalry when they meet in their final 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations Group A match, set for Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Today.
Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles need to step up their game for a must-win encounter with Ghana’s Black Stars in the ongoing WAFU Nations Cup today.
Ghana coach Maxwell Konadu has turned his attention to the derby clash against Nigeria on Monday, September 18 after his side booked an early semifinal qualification berth at the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations.
Super Eagles of Nigeria coach Salisu Yusuf is upbeat about his side’s chances against Ghana in the last game of Group A in the ongoing WAFU Cup.
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