Nigeria claim 2-1 win over 10-man Ghana in international friendly
Nigeria secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ghana in an international friendly held on Friday at the Stade de Marrakech, marking a great triumph for the AFCON finalists over their longstanding rivals.
The Super Eagles asserted dominance from the start, continuously pressuring the Black Stars and dictating the flow of play. Ghana’s goalkeeper, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, showcased his prowess with a remarkable save early on to deny Nigeria an early lead.
Nigeria broke the deadlock when forward Cyriel Dessers calmly converted a penalty after Ghana was penalized for a handball inside the box, giving Nigeria a well-deserved lead heading into halftime. Despite Ghana’s efforts to equalise before the break, Antoine Semenyo squandered a promising opportunity with a misfired shot.
Trailing at halftime, coach Otto Addo made strategic adjustments, transitioning to a five-back formation and introducing Tariq Lamptey and Ebenezer Annan. Alidu Seidu shifted to central defence alongside Jerome Opoku and midfielder Edmund Addo.
The adjustments led to Ghana demonstrating improved control and confidence in possession during the second half, creating several half-chances. However, their momentum was hindered when Jerome Opoku received a controversial red card for an alleged elbow, a decision vehemently protested by Addo and the player himself.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Ghana continued to dominate possession, but their inability to convert chances proved costly. Nigeria capitalised on a swift counterattack, with Ademola Lookman sealing the win with a clinical finish.
Although visibly disheartened by the late goal conceded, Ghana salvaged a consolation goal in stoppage time, courtesy of a well-taken penalty by captain Jordan Ayew. This marked Ayew’s third consecutive goal for Ghana, all from penalty kicks.
Despite the defeat, Ghana can draw positives from their spirited performance, particularly in the second half, where players showed heightened determination. Alidu Seidu, Ernest Nuamah, and Edmund Addo notably made significant contributions when Addo adjusted tactics mid-game.
Ghana will now turn their attention to their upcoming friendly against Uganda on Tuesday, eager to build on the promising aspects of their play exhibited against Nigeria.
