March 29, (THEWILL) – After a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture of the playoffs, Ghana qualified for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup at the expense of Nigeria, thanks to an away goals rule in the game played at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Tuesday.
Following a goalless draw in the first leg last week, Thomas Partey’s strike was enough to upset the home crowd in Abuja, bringing the Black Stars’ brief absence from World Cups to an end.
Nigeria’s goalkeeping problems reappeared after only 11 minutes.
When the Super Eagles were knocked out of the TotalEnergies 2021 Africa Cup of Nations by Tunisia in January, Maduka Okoye let Youssef Msakni’s strike beat him far too easily, and this time it was Francis Uzoho in goal for a true howler.
Thomas Partey lined up a shot from outside the area, and despite the fact that the Arsenal man’s strike was rather feeble and right at the keeper, Uzoho made a dreadful mess of his save, and Ghana had the critical away goal.
Unfazed, Nigeria immediately responded putting the Ghanaian defence under pressure but Victor Osimhen fired wide from a narrow angle.
Tunisian referee Sadok Selmi may have stood against the World Cup hopes of the Super Eagles after Denis Odoi fouled Ademola Lookman in the area but changed his judgement via VAR to award Nigeria a penalty which William Troost-Ekong buried.
Osimhen believed he had completed the turnaround for the hosts before halftime, but VAR interfered again, correctly calling the Napoli striker’s goal back for offside after he had found the net by going around the Ghanaian goalie.
There was a sense that Osimhen was the Nigerian hero to take the country back from the brink to a Qatar ticket, as seen by his expertly-improvised flick towards goal as a cross bounced up awkwardly, but his attempt flashed only a fraction wide.
Then, just as it was in Cameroon two months ago, fatigue began to set in for Augustine Eguavoen’s charges. The technical man brought in changes off the bench as Odion Ighalo and Ahmed Musa came in to supply experience and some goal-scoring prowess.
However, it was more or less unproductive as Osimhen remained the major threat in the side. He continued to get glimpses of goal and took his chance to shoot an acrobatic half-volley that went wide.
Ghana responded by defending well, notably following Otto Addo’s tactical decision to switch to a five-man defence in the second half knowing that the 1-1 score at the end of the first 45 minutes was enough for them. Their streetwise tactics paid off handsomely as they restricted chances to concede.
It means Ghana, instead of Nigeria, will compete in their fourth World Cup in five attempts later this year, while Nigeria will miss their first since 2006.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
