Ghana players celebrate qualification to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar after 1-1 draw at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
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Ghana Beats Nigeria On Away Goals, Qualifies For World Cup

By Chidi Nwoke, Abuja.

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The Blacks Stars of Ghana have qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after a 1-1 draw against Nigeria, progressing on the away goals rule at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

Thomas Partey opened the scoring for the visitors, but William Troost-Ekong equalised from the penalty spot to give Nigeria a glimmer of hope. However, the Super Eagles weren’t able to convert their chances and have missed out on the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Preview

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Ghana in the clash of Africa’s finest for a place at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup when both sides meet for their qualification playoff match at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

In the first leg, Nigeria were held 0-0 by Ghana at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi as both sides took a cautious approach to the game. The tension associated with the matches between the West African heavyweights has never been higher, as both pride and bragging rights will be at stake.

The Super Eagles will be counting on home advantage as the roar of the fans at the stadium would spur the Eagles on, all the way to Qatar. The second leg will kick off by 06:00 pm (WAT/Nigerian time), on Tuesday.

Nigeria will be looking to earn a seventh FIFA World Cup finals appearance when they battle the Black Stars of Ghana at the Abuja Stadium.

For the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemics in 2020, the Super Eagles will be playing in front of a 60,000 capacity crowd

Eguavoen makes five changes to Nigeria’s XI to play Ghana tonight, handing full debuts for Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman & Emmanuel Dennis.

If Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen leads Nigeria to qualify for the World Cup, he will become only the third indigenous man, after the late Coach Shuaibu Amodu and Stephen Keshi (also late) to have sealed qualification to the World Cup.

Ghana

While Nigeria is dreaming of victory, the Black stars of Ghana say they are in Abuja to pull a big surprise.

Though they did not get any advantage from the first leg, Ghana can still pick the ticket to the World Cup if they can secure a score draw at the Moshood Abiola Stadium on Tuesday.

However, a loss will automatically eliminate the Ghanaians

After the first leg in Ghana, the Black Stars vowed to seal victory in Abuja, saying the “inadequate” time they had to train before the game in Kumasi was responsible for their failure to beat the Super Eagles.

KICK OFF!!!

1′  We are off at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium where Nigeria are taking on Ghana for a place at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

4′   Frank Onyeka commits a foul and Ghana get a free kick in their box.

6′   Throw in for Nigeria and its taken by Ola Aina.

8′   Nigeria gets its first corner kick.

10′  A Counter attack by Ghana causes a big scare for Nigeria but Uzoho makes the save.

11′  GOAL for Ghana. Its Thomas Partey with the goal for the Black stars.

The Nigerian fans in the stadium are in shock. The Supers Eagles will need to score two goals to qualify.

13′  Instant response by Osimhen but the Ghana goalkeeper makes a big save.

15′  The score line remains 1-0 to Ghana.

17′  The Super Eagles are piling the pressure on their visitors.

21′ PENALTY TO NIGERIA!!!!

22′  Captain William Troost-Ekong steps up and fires the ball into the net. GOAL!!!!!! NIGERIA 1-1 GHANA.

Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong scores penalty against Ghana during World Cup qualification playoff.

26′  The referee shows Daniel Amartey a yellow card for a dangerous challenge outside the penalty box.

28′  The free kick is blocked by the Ghana defenders.

31′ Possession: Nigeria 64% – 26% Ghana.

34′  GOAL!!!!!! ITS VICTOR OSIMHEN!!!! He scores Nigeria’s second of the game. He latched onto a pass and placed the ball into the net. Nigeria 2-1 Ghana.

OH NO!!! The referee consults VAR for a possible offside. After a few moments the referee decides and the goal is overturned. Nigeria 1-1 Ghana.

36′ The game gets underway again.

40′  Nigeria wins  a free kick near the corner flag. The delivery was poor.

44′  A Ghanaian player is receiving treatment for a foul.

45′  The fourth official indicates four minutes of added time.

HALFTIME: Nigeria 1-1 Ghana.

The Super Eagles of  Nigeria have fought their way back into the game after going down by an early goal from Thomas Partey. Captain William Troost-Ekong equalised for Nigeria from the penalty spot to give the hosts a glimmer of hope. Osimhen then scores moments later, but VAR cancelled the goal for offside.

SECOND HALF

The players are out for the second half.

Substitution. Shehu Abdullahi replaces Frank Onyeka in midfield for Nigeria.

Triple substitution for Ghana. Andy Yiadom comes on for Iddrisu Baba, Jordan Ayew replaces Elisha Owusu and Abdul Issahaku goes off for D. Kyereh.

46′  The referee awards a foul to Nigeria.

48′  Corner for Ghana. But Nigeria defends the attack by the visitors.

Nigerian fans in the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

50′  A cross into Ghana’s danger area but the goalkeeper makes a smart save.

54′  Corner to Nigeria. The ball finds Dennis, but his header goes wide.

57′  Nigeria moves the ball forward but its intercepted by the Ghanaians.

59′  Thrown in for Ghana around Nigeria’s corner flag.

61′  Substitution for Nigeria. Moses Simon comes on for Ademola Lookman

64′  Goal kick to Ghana and the goalkeeper sends it deep.

Nigeria 1-1 Ghana. The Black Stars are ahead on the away goals rule. As it stands, Nigeria will be knocked out if the scores remain the same.

70′  Free kick to Nigeria outside Ghana’s penalty area. The Ghanaians keep the Super Eagles out.

72′  Nigeria gets into a good position in Ghana’s box, but Osimhen gets flagged off for offside.

73′  Quick free kick by Moses Simon, but Ghana stops the attack.

74′  Substitution. Osman Bukari replaces K. Kudus for Ghana.

75′  A shot by Ghana but the ball goes wide. The scores remain 1-1.

78′  Double substitution for Nigeria, Odion Ighalo replaces Emmanuel Dennis. Ahmed Musa comes on for Oghenekaro Etebo.

81′  Corner kick to Nigeria.

83′  Osimhen misses a glorious effort was he was found unmarked in Ghana’s penalty area. He had enough time to bring down the ball and take a shot, but rushed his chance in the air.

87′  Corner to Nigeria. The ball is crossed into the box and the goalkeeper sends it over. Another corner for Nigeria.

90+1′  Ghana attacks Nigeria on the counter, but the winger fires wide of the mark.

90+5′  The referee blows the final whistle, Nigeria 1-1 Ghana.

FULL TIME: Nigeria 1-1 Ghana

It’s over for Nigeria. Ghana have knocked the Super Eagles out of contention for a place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Follow Voice of Nigeria for more updates live from the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

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