Peter Odemwingie scored the only goal to give Nigeria a victory that means World Cup debutants Bosnia-Hercegovina will not progress from Group F.
The Stoke player struck in the first half to give Nigeria their first win at a World Cup finals since 1998.
The goal came just seven minutes after Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko had a goal incorrectly disallowed for offside.
Nigeria will reach the knockout stages if they get a point against Argentina, or if Iran fail to beat Bosnia.
Odemwingie's decisive strike came just a month after he returned to the Nigeria squad following a two-year absence caused by a dispute with coach Stephen Keshi.
Knowing they needed a win to stay in their first World Cup finals, Bosnia attacked from the start but were vulnerable in defence, with Odemwingie, John Mikel Obi and Michael Babatunde all squandering early chances for Nigeria.
Bosnia briefly thought they had taken the lead when Dzeko latched onto a pass from Miralem Pjanic, but the Manchester City forward was denied by an offside flag, though replays suggested he had timed his run well.
The Super Eagles made the most of the let-off as Emmanuel Emenike powered past Emir Spahic on the right before finding Odemwingie, who shot through the legs of his Stoke team-mate Asmir Begovic to score.
Pjanic stood out with a string of perceptive passes, but Dzeko in particular could not capitalise on the Roma midfielder's fine work, spurning more opportunities before half-time.
Nigeria absorbed Bosnian pressure early in the second half, but they counter attacked effectively and came close to going further ahead when Babatunde and Emenike forced saves from Begovic in quick succession.
Bosnia continued to press, but substitute Vedad Ibisevic, who came off the bench to score in the defeat by Argentina, wasted a chance to equalise when he bundled a cross wide despite finding space in the area.
And, with seconds of injury time remaining, Dzeko scuffed a shot which Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama deflected onto the post and away to safety.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (2) & SUBSTITUTIONS (5)
Nigeria
- 01 Enyeama
- 05 Ambrose Emuobo
- 13 Oshaniwa
- 10 Mikel Booked
- 02 Yobo
- 22 Omeruo
- 08 Odemwingie
- 17 Onazi
- 09 Emenike
- 18 Babatunde (Uzoenyi - 75' )
- 07 Musa (Ameobi - 65' )
Substitutes
- 03 Uzoenyi
- 04 Gabriel
- 06 Egwuekwe
- 11 Moses
- 12 Odunlami
- 15 Azeez
- 16 Ejide
- 19 Nwofor
- 20 Uchebo
- 21 Agbim
- 23 Ameobi
Bosnia-Hercegovina
- 01 Begovic
- 13 Mujdza
- 16 Lulic (Salihovic - 58' )
- 07 Besic
- 15 Sunjic
- 04 Spahic
- 20 Hajrovic (Ibisevic - 57' )
- 18 Medunjanin Booked (Susic - 64' )
- 11 Dzeko
- 08 Pjanic
- 10 Misimovic
Substitutes
- 02 Vrsajevic
- 03 Bicakcic
- 05 Kolasinac
- 06 Vranjes
- 09 Ibisevic
- 12 Fejzic
- 14 Susic
- 17 Ibricic
- 19 Visca
- 21 Hadzic
- 22 Avdukic
- 23 Salihovic
Ref: Peter O'Leary
Att: 40,499
Live Text Commentary
Story of the match:
- Klose becomes all-time joint record scorer in World Cup
- Germany move to four points in Group G
- Ghana come from behind to take lead
- Klose equalises with first touch
Miroslav Klose became the joint record scorer in World Cup history as he rescued Germany a point from a breathless and dramatic game with Ghana at Estadio Castelao.
The 36-year-old Lazio striker scored with his first touch after coming on as a second-half substitute as the Germans came from behind to snatch a draw.
The goal, scored from a yard out, means Klose is now level with former Brazil striker Ronaldo on 15 goals.
Germany were, however, fortunate to escape with a point.
Having taken a fortuitous lead through Mario Gotze's unorthodox header, Ghana came roaring back to score twice in nine minutes through Andre Ayew and Asamoah Gyan, to the huge delight of the vast majority of the crowd.
Joachim Low, the Germany coach, turned to the experience of Klose and the veteran did not disappoint as he prodded in to keep his side top of Group G.
The result means Germany, who move on to four points, have still only won their second game of a World Cup once since 1994. At Euro 2008, and at the 2010 World Cup, they followed up opening wins with defeats.
Ghana keep alive their chances of qualification for the last 16 but will have to beat Portugal in their final game to have a chance.
With temperatures in excess of 30C at the start, the tempo was understandably slow for much of the first half.
A series of pinball passing movements between Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze threatened to create an opening for Germany.
But in the stifling heat of Fortaleza, Ghana restricted their most celebrated opponents to half chances and blocked shots in an underwhelming opening 45 minutes.
Ghana had won over the neutrals by the interval by creating arguably the best chances but, within six minutes of the re-start, Germany were in front.
Muller found a yard of space, looked up and picked out Gotze's run. The Bayern Munich forward did not make clean contact, heading the ball on to his knee, but the ball still deflected beyond Ghana goalkeeper Fatau Dauda.
Key facts |
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Miroslav Klose is only the third player in World Cup history to score in four different editions of the competition (after Pele and Uwe Seeler).
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Asamoah Gyan equalled Roger Milla's record of five goals, they are the two highest scoring Africans at World Cups.
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Per Mertesacker became the 13th player to appear 100 times for Germany.
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Ghana rose to find hope and purpose. Three minutes later they levelled to send Estadio Castelao into raptures, Andre Ayew leaping to head home Harrison Afful's wonderful right-wing cross.
More drama was to come nine minutes later, as Ghana went ahead with a goal that stemmed from a rare mistake by Philipp Lahm.
Muntari pounced on the loose ball and slipped an inch-perfect ball through for Gyan, who fired firmly beyond goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Germany turned to the experience of Klose and Bastian Schweinsteiger to stem the flow, with Ghana sensing an upset.
It was a move that paid off almost immediately as Klose scored with his first touch to equal the World Cup scoring record and bring Germany level.
Benedikt Howedes headed a corner towards the net and, just as it was about to cross the line, Klose prodded in to breathe life into Germany's hopes.
Ghana began to tire as Germany pushed on. Toni Kroos found Muller but a brave block by Ayew denied him. Jonathan Mensah threw his body on the line soon after as Germany poured forward but Ghana went close themselves through Christian Atsu and Gyan.
Neither team deserved to lose but both might have had more than a point.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (1) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
Germany
- 01 Neuer
- 20 Boateng (Mustafi - 45' )
- 04 Höwedes
- 16 Lahm
- 17 Mertesacker
- 05 Hummels
- 06 Khedira (Schweinsteiger - 70' )
- 18 Kroos
- 13 Müller
- 08 Özil
- 19 Götze (Klose - 69' )
Substitutes
- 02 Großkreutz
- 03 Ginter
- 07 Schweinsteiger
- 09 Schürrle
- 10 Podolski
- 11 Klose
- 12 Zieler
- 14 Draxler
- 15 Durm
- 21 Mustafi
- 22 Weidenfeller
- 23 Kramer
Ghana
- 16 Dauda
- 23 Afful
- 20 Asamoah
- 11 Muntari Booked
- 21 Boye
- 19 Mensah
- 07 Atsu (Wakaso - 71' )
- 17 Rabiu (Badu - 78' )
- 03 Gyan
- 09 Boateng (J.Ayew - 52' )
- 10 A.Ayew
Substitutes
- 01 Adams
- 02 Inkoom
- 04 Opare
- 05 Essien
- 06 Acquah
- 08 Badu
- 12 Larsen Kwarasey
- 13 J.Ayew
- 14 Adomah
- 15 Sumaila
- 18 Waris
- 22 Wakaso
Ref: Sandro Meira Ricci
Att: 59,621
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