World Cup Qualifiers – Ghana vs Nigeria: The Black Stars following three consecutive campaigns in the World Cup failed to qualify for the Russian WC. Furthermore, the nation suffered an embarrassing group-stage exit in the AFCON.
The team had an uphill task of getting past Nigeria to make it to Qatar. The home leg proved as the perfect opportunity to gain themselves the lead.
Despite being better than the visitors in most parts of the game, they were not able to get on the score sheet. However, having been able to register a clean sheet. They would have everything to play for in the away leg in Abuja, Nigeria.
World Cup Qualifiers – Ghana vs Nigeria: Match report
Full-time score: Ghana 0-0 Nigeria
Ghana starting XI: Wollacott; Odoi, Amartey, Djiku, Mensah; Partey, Baba, Kudus; Issahaku, Afena-Gyan, Ayew.
Booking: Djiku
Nigeria starting XI: Uzoho; Aina, Balogun, Troost-Ekong, Sanusi; Aribo, Iheanacho, Bonke; Simon, Osimhen, Chukwueze.
Booking: Etebo.
Post-match reactions
Ghana’s interim coach, Otto Addo: “The booing I think is for me, no problem. I think it’s normal, Jordan played well, had a very good performance, especially in the first half.
“A lot of one against ones… at the end, I don’t know if they don’t see it but he was tired and what they might not know….we watch a lot of matches, me and my squad…. and I think we know what each of them is capable of.”
Nigeria vice-captain, William Troost-Ekong: “It was difficult for the guys. The pitch did not help, it was a try pitch,” Troost-Ekong said at his post-match press conference.
“They sometimes struggled to move the ball quickly. But I think it was great work from Ghana, but I think everybody was quite scared of Victor [Osimhen]. They were two against one most of the time [against him].
“We have learned from today, we need to be more clinical and against a good team like Ghana. When you get one or two chances, you have to score, or else you cannot win the game.”
