Ghana qualify ahead of Nigeria for FIFA World Cup in Qatar
The Black Stars booked a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a 1-1 draw against Nigeria in Abuja.
Nigeria appeared to feed off the energy in the stadium and dominated the Black Stars for most of the early exchanges.
However, it was the Black Stars who took a shock lead after some good hold-up play from Jordan Ayew as Gideon Mensah’s pass found Thomas Partey on the edge of the Nigerian box and the Arsenal midfielder’s powerful effort went straight through goalie Uzoho.
Partey’s goal had silenced the home crowd but fired up the Nigerian players who almost equalised immediately when Victor Osimhen’s effort flew just past Joseph Wollacott’s post.
A tackle in the box on Ademola Lookman from Denis Odoi was deemed legal by the referee but after he was prompted to review the footage of the incident, the official awarded a penalty to Nigeria.
Defender, William Troost-Ekong stepped up and sent Wollacott the wrong way, levelling the score on aggregate.
Read: Nigeria vs Ghana: Otto Addo expresses confidence in the Black Stars ahead of the Super clash
Nigeria thought they had turned the game around when Osimhen run onto a long ball, beating Wollacott to it and found the net but was ruled offside after a lengthy VAR check.
Aribo then had an effort pushed behind for a corner by Wollacott after Iddrisu Baba dallied on the ball in the box.
The Black Stars began the second half with three changes Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, Andy Yiadom and Elisha Owusu came on for Jordan Ayew, Baba Iddrisu and Fatawu Issahaku.
Otto Addo’s changes appeared to nullify Nigeria’s attacks as they were limited to mostly half chances, mostly worked-for by Osimhen.
Wollacott was called into action yet again when he saved a header from a corner.
At the end, Partey’s away goal was enough to secure Ghana one of Africa’s five slots at the World Cup in Qatar.
