A day ago
The Black Galaxies of Ghana were forced to settle for a goalless draw against Nigeria's Super Eagles B in the first leg of their 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday. The stalemate leaves both teams with a fighting chance of advancing to the next round, but Ghana now face a daunting task of securing a scoring draw in the return leg in Uyo to book their spot in the 2025 CHAN tournament.
The match got off to a promising start for the Black Galaxies, who dominated possession and created several scoring opportunities in the early stages of the game. However, their inability to convert these chances into goals proved costly, as Nigeria gradually grew into the game, using their physical presence to disrupt Ghana's attacks and limit their effectiveness.
One of the few bright spots for Nigeria in the first half was a counterattack led by Adamu Abubakar, which was only thwarted by a last-ditch intervention from Ghana's Ebenezer Abban. The resulting free kick, taken by Captain Junior Nduka, sailed narrowly wide of the target, ensuring that the score remained level at halftime.
The second half saw Ghana intensify their efforts, with Mustapha Yakubu testing the reflexes of Nigerian goalkeeper Ozoemena Ani. Nigeria responded with a deflected shot from Papa Daniel Mustafa, which rattled the woodwork in the 58th minute. Despite creating several scoring opportunities, neither team could find the breakthrough, and the match ultimately ended in a goalless draw.
The outcome of the match sets the stage for a thrilling second leg in Uyo on December 28. Ghana will need to secure a scoring draw to advance to the next round, while Nigeria will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage to book their spot in the 2025 CHAN tournament. With so much at stake, both teams will be eager to give it their all and emerge victorious in the return leg.
In the buildup to the second leg, Ghana's coach will need to work on the team's finishing, as their inability to convert chances into goals proved costly in the first leg. Nigeria, on the other hand, will be looking to build on their solid defensive display and catch Ghana on the counterattack. With the stakes so high, the return leg promises to be an exciting and closely contested encounter.
Total Comments: 0