Accra, February 4:

Host Ghana and tournament favourite Ivory Coast both reached the African Cup of Nations semi-finals on Sunday, staying on course to meet each other in the February 10 final.

Sulley Muntari set up goals in each half for Michael Essien and Junior Agogo, helping the Black Stars beat Nigeria 2-1 after Ayegbeni Yakubu had given the Super Eagles

the lead. Didier Drogba scored his third goal of the tournament and Salomon Kalou added two more in a 5-0 rout of Guinea. Abdulkader Keita and Bakari Kone also scored.

Nigeria led on Yakubu’s 34th-minute penalty before Essien headed in Muntari’s cross for the equaliser just before halftime. Muntari’s pass in the 83rd saw Agogo score from two yards.

In Sekondi, Keita gave Ivory Coast the only goal it needed in the 24th. Drogba scored in the 70th and then set up Salomon Kalou in the 73rd. Kalou added his second in the 80th before Kone completed the rout scoring yet another in the 86th. Besides Drogba, Kalou also boosted his tournament scoring total to three while it was the second for Keita.

The Elephants reached the last four for the second straight tournament and remain on track for a second final. Having lost to host Egypt on penalties two years ago, they could meet in the semi-finals this time around.