World Cup: Ghana Stop Nigeria’s Super Eagles

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A battling performance came short of earning the 2022 FIFA World Cup ticket for Nigeria as the Super Eagles drew 1-1 with Ghana’s Black Stars in their playoff final battle at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. Both teams had fought to a 0-0 draw in Kumasi on Friday.

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The Super Eagles set out with zest and belief in front of a full house at the 60,491 –capacity stadium, and Emmanuel Dennis shaded three defenders only to overhit his cross in the 8^th minute.

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Ghana shocked the 60,000 cheering spectators when Thomas Partey unleased a shot from 20 yards that surprisingly went past goalkeeper Francis Uzoho into the net for the first goal of the fixture.

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Victor Osimhen came close to equalizing a minute after but dragged his shot too wide, and in the 19^th minute, a fierce tussle in the Ghanaian box ended with Tunisian referee Selmi Sadok awarding a penalty kick to Nigeria. William Ekong stepped up to send goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott the wrong way.

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In the 34^th minute, Nigeria thought they had taken the lead when Victor Osimhen ran hard on a floated ball from Oghenekaro Etebo and got past Wollacott to slot into the net, but a VAR check by referee Sadok ruled out the strike. On the stroke of half time, a cut back by Dennis was safely dealt with by Wollacott.

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The Eagles struggled to create many chances in the second half. A floater by Ademola Lookman in the 50^th minute was caught by Wollacott. Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and Osimhen on two occasions, missed narrowly as the Eagles failed to get the goal they needed to turn the table.

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Ghana qualify for the showpiece in Qatar on the away goal rule. ​