The race continues for a coveted spot in the eighth African Nations Championship, as Nigeria and Ghana remain locked in a tense qualifying battle following a goalless draw in the first leg of their match held at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
In the initial half, Ghana’s Black Galaxies displayed dominance, creating numerous scoring opportunities that highlighted their attacking prowess.
However, they were met with a resolute Nigerian defence skillfully led by Captain Nduka Junior, who ensured that their goal remained unbreached.
Notable moments included a promising attack from Stephen Amankwoo in the 15th minute, who found a gap in the Super Eagles’ defence but saw his powerful shot narrowly miss the target, flying just inches wide of goalkeeper Henry Ozoemena’s goalpost.
As the match edged toward halftime, Sikiru Alimi took a free-kick that also drifted above the crossbar, contributing to the match’s competitive back-and-forth dynamic, as both teams pressed for an opening goal.
This goalless result is significant, marking the most favourable outcome Nigeria has achieved in away qualifying matches against Ghana for the African Nations Championship. In previous encounters, the Super Eagles faced defeats, losing 2-3 in 2008 and suffering a heavier loss with a two-goal margin in 2022.
Looking ahead, both teams are poised for the highly anticipated second leg of the qualifying fixture, scheduled for Saturday, December 28, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
The stakes are high, as the aggregate winner will secure a place to represent the WAFU B zone in the prestigious tournament, which exclusively features professional footballers competing within their home leagues.
To progress to the championship, Nigeria must secure victory over Ghana in regular time during the upcoming match. A scoreless draw would force the game into extra time, and potentially penalties, while a score draw would grant the Ghanaians an advantage, complicating Nigeria’s hopes of qualification.
The upcoming African Nations Championship is set to take place from February 1-28, 2025, co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.
The home-based Super Eagles, currently under the guidance of stand-in head coach Daniel Ogunmodede and his Rangers International counterpart Fidelis Ilechukwu, are on a quest to qualify for the tournament for the first time in six years.
Note that Nigeria have yet to clinch the African Nations Championship, having reached the podium with a third-place finish in 2014 in South Africa and suffering a painful defeat in the finals against the Moroccan hosts in 2018.