- All eyes turn to Abuja decides on March 29
After playing out a pulsating goalless draw at Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Friday night, both Nigeria and Ghana are already turning their attention to the return fixture that will determine their qualification fate to this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Expectedly, the fully-packed Stadium saw the Black Stars making an aggressive start to the encounter but the Super Eagles were solid in resisting the hosts’ attacking forays.
In the absence of suspended Andre Ayew, Roma youngster, Felix Ohene-Gyan led Ghana’s attack while Lorient’s Innocent Bonke joined Joe Aribo in Nigeria’s midfield and Leon Balogun formed a strong partnership with William Troost-Ekong at the centre of Nigeria’s defence.
With the hosts dominant in the opening minutes, the game was briefly stopped on the half-hour-mark for medical personnel to treat Osimhen following a challenge from Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus.
Two minutes later, the Black Stars had the clearest chance in the first half with Abdul Fatawu Issahaku’s shot from outside the penalty area but it was parried for a corner-kick by Keeper Francis Uzoho.
The first 45 minutes ended with the Black Stars recording more shots and set-pieces but they lacked the cutting edge to go ahead.
However, 10 minutes after the restart, Simon delivered the Super Eagles’ brightest chance after finding space on the left flank but his effort could not beat goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott.
In the 59th minute, Eguavoen made some tactical changes withdrawing Joe Aribo and Simon for Brentford’s Frank Onyeka and Watford’s Emmanuel Dennis respectively.
Again, the Super Eagles were forced to make another substitution after Bonke was stretchered off in the 61st minute making way for Oghenekaro Etebo to join the action.
Ghana once again had a chance to break the deadlock in the 71st minute after Kudus burst through on goal from the right, but his shot was saved by Uzoho for a corner-kick.
It was a dramatic final 15 minutes as the referee awarded Nigeria a penalty for a handball in the 18-yard box but it was overturned after a VAR review for Ghana’s free-kick. Disappointed by the decision, Etebo protested to the referee and got a yellow card for dissent.
With the draw, both sides have all to play for in the return fixture billed for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
While the Eagles are aiming for their seventh World Cup appearance in Qatar (1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014, and 2018), the Black Stars have only featured in three editions of the tournament (2006, 2010, 2014). – With Goal.com reports
