It was a scrappy affair in Kumasi as Ghana hosted Nigeria in the first leg of the World Cup qualifier. The hosts started strong, looking to test the Nigerian backline with long balls over the top. The visitors took a while to get into the game. While their defenders withstood the Ghanaian attacks, they struggle to hold the ball up the pitch, and their attempts at pressing made it easier for Ghana to get the ball forward.
They grew into the first half though, and began to get the ball into the final third with regularly. It was a half of two halves, with Nigeria enjoying the better of the latter stages. In truth though, neither goalkeeper was overworked, and that continued to be the case in the second half. Ghana started aggressively once again but, once they withstood the initial attempts, Nigeria continued to grow into proceedings.
It always felt like a game that might end without a goal, and in truth any sight at goal was as likely to come from a mistake, or a piece of individual quality, as it was from the organised possession of either side. With a second leg to play, it remained cagey throughout, and both sides will head to Nigeria knowing that a win on the day will see them through.
MORE: Are there away goals in Africa World Cup qualifiers 2022?
Ghana vs. Nigeria final score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Ghana | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nigeria | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goals:
(All times Eastern)
Final: Ghana 0, Nigeria 0
FULLTIME It’s a stalemate in Ghana, with neither side able to trouble the goalkeeper during a scrappy game. It’s all to play for when the teams meet again in Nigeria.
93rd min: There’s a stoppage as we approach the end of the game, with Djiku down after taking a ball to the head. He’s back up, but time is running out for either side to score.
88th min: You can feel the tension in the stadium. There hasn’t been a lot of goalmouth action but, as the games draws to a close, it would only take one moment of quality, or one mistake. Bukari makes a storming run down the right but, with two teammates attacking the goal, he opts to pull the ball back to the edge of the area, rather than the ball across goal, and the break comes to nothing.
84th min: Kyeres fires a ball in behind and Uzoho has to come off his line quickly to stop Ayew getting on the end of it.
82nd min: Afena-Gyan is off for Ghana, with Kyereh on in his place.
79th min: Lookman has replaced Moses Simon already, while the hosts make a change, with Bukari on for Fatawu.
77th min: The referee gives a penalty to Nigeria, but VAR intervenes. After going across to look at the monitor, the referee only takes a moment to change his mind, and it’s a free kick to Ghana. Etebo is distraught, and it booked for showing just how upset he is.
74th min: Bassey is on for Zaidu, joining Etebo who replaced Innocent earlier. The game is still fairly stretched, with either side looking capable of scoring.
71st min: Great feet from Kudus to burst through on goal from the right, his low shot is drilled towards the near post, and Uzoho pushes it wide for a corner. From the resulting corner, the ball goes somehow goes through everyone.
68th min: Gyan has a shot from distance on the counter that goes way over, before a Nigeria free kick from right of centre deflects over off the wall. The resulting corner is over everyone, and out for a throw on the far side.
65th min: The second half has been scrappier, with a few stoppages, and gaps beginning to appear at both ends.
60th min: Innocent is stretchered off for the visitors, who are temporarily down to ten as Ghana have a corner. They waste it as they play it short, giving away a throw in. Victor Osimhen is signalling for a substitution, but nobody is ready to come on yet. Djiku picks up the first booking of the game for a handball.
59th min: Joe Aribo is off for Frank Onyeka, while Emmanuel Dennis replaces Moses Simon. Better from Ghana who work the ball forwards. Ayew rolls it into Partey’s path, his shot from outside the area deflected for a corner.
57th min: Nigeria are turning the screw a little here, and Ghana’s attempts at pressing Nigeria are not effective enough, as the Nigerians continue to apply pressure. There’s a stoppage as Nigeria prepare to make changes, and a player receives treatment.
56th min: Nigeria’s best chance of the match so far, as Simon finds space on the left. From inside the area he fires at goal, but Wollacott gets something on the shot.
52nd min: Much like the first half, Ghana have started aggressively, but Nigeria have been up to the task, as Uzoho comes out to collect an attempted through ball.
48th min: It’s an aggressive start from the Ghanaians. Thomas Partey is appealing for a penalty, but Nigeria are given a free kick for offside.
46th min: The teams are back out and, after a couple of team huddles on the pitch, the hosts get things underway. They go direct, with Afena-Gyan the target for a long ball as he runs directly towards goal, but the Nigerians see out the threat. Ghana win a corner from the left.
HALFTIME That’s it for the first half. Ghana started aggressively but Nigeria held firm and, after the first twenty minutes, grew into the game more.
45th min: We’re into injury time, and Ghana have a corner on the right. It’s played short before being lifted towards the back stick, but again Ghana make nothing of it, and it’s a Nigeria goal kick. One minute of added time gone.
42nd min: Uzoho collects a ball floated into his area. Nigeria have had the better of the last twenty minutes or so, having weathered the early Ghana storm. Simon tries to lift a ball towards the far post from the left, while inside the area, but it deflects and Wollacott grabs it before it floats under his crossbar.
40th min: A loose ball finds Osimhen on the edge of the area, and he lashes at the ball. It hits a defender inside the area. Osimhen is appealing for a handball, and one or two of his teammates join in, but nothing is given. We do have VAR here, but Nigeria won’t be getting anything it seems. Aribo is found bursting into the area from the right, but he fires well over the bar.
37th min: Nigeria show a little more threat as they press higher up the pitch. So far in the match, Ghana have managed to turn them with long balls, but Nigeria keep them hemmed in next to the corner flag. It ends with Osimhem shooting from a very tight angle on the left, but the shot is blocked and out for a corner. Nigeria keep the ball but only make a half chance from it.
33rd min: Good play by Ghana. Afena-Gyan does really well, between Nigeria defenders, to control a long ball with his chest, turning his back to goal to lay it off into space on edge of the D. Fatawa fires towards goal, with power but lacking placement. Uzoo manages to palm it out for a corner.
30th min: Osimhen is down in the centre circle, holding his ankle, after a strong coming together with Innocent. The Nigerian players wanted a foul but the officials weren’t having it. After a brief break for treatment, the forward is back on his feet, but it’s a good opportunity for a water break and frantic instructions from the coaching staff.
29th min: Uzoho is forced to scramble as Mensah delivers from the left, and the ball deflects towards the near post. It ends up going out for a corner, but Ghana can’t make anything from the opportunity.
26th min: This time it’s a Ghanaian defender forced into a covering challenge. Nigeria win the ball and break quickly, and Djiku is forced to go to ground to stop Osimhen galloping past him and through on goal.
22nd: Nigeria’s most promising moment, the ball from the left is just slightly too far ahead of Osimhen, who stretches to meet it in the air at the far post. Ghana counter, Ayew dribbles down the left but his cross is held by Uzoho.
20th min: Ghana get in behind again, this time with a ball down the left. Gyan gets on the end of it and looks to cut onto his right and shoot, but the shot is blocked.
16th min: It’s an excellent covering challenge from Leon Balogun after a long ball over the top catches the Nigerian defence out. Chukwueze and Simon have swapped sides a couple of times further forward, but in truth Nigeria haven’t managed to get the ball forward with enough regularity for it to matter.
11th min: There’s a stoppage in play as Amartey dribbles into the Nigeria half. The ball is flat. It’s changed, and we go again, Ghana are back on the attack. Nigeria are still holding firm.
8th min: It’s a high tempo start, with Ghana probing Nigeria’s backline with long balls over top. Nigeria haven’t been overly troubled so far.
2nd min: The noise is deafening as Ghana attack with a long ball down the right, and win their first corner. It comes to nothing, but the fans are certainly playing their part tonight.
3:30 p.m.: It’s time for the national anthems. The PA system is a bit sluggish with the Nigerian national anthem, which is drowned out by the home fans. Unsurprisingly, there’s no such problem for the home team.
3:21 p.m. The stadium is absolutely packed for the big game. The teams aren’t yet out, but it’s abuzz with noise already.
3:14 p.m.: Team news is out for the hosts, but we’re still waiting for the Super Eagles lineup.
🇬🇭🇳🇬 |
📑 TEAM NEWS – The men for today’s job 🤝🏼#WCQ2022 | #BringBackTheLove | #GoBlackStarsGo | #GoGhana pic.twitter.com/RoDzx8jpaJ
— Black Stars 🇬🇭 (@GhanaBlackstars) March 25, 2022
3:00 p.m.: These teams have come through a grueling qualifying tournament, and they’re within touching distance of reaching the World Cup. Who will make it?
2️⃣ STEPS LEFT FOR THE DREAM 🙌
🔟 nations aspire to represent Africa on the global stage 🏆
Who will make it to the #WorldCup? 🏆#WCQ pic.twitter.com/WvpMQFgPFL
— CAF (@CAF_Online) March 25, 2022
Ghana vs. Nigeria lineups
Otto Addo rings the changes for Ghana as they go into the game.
Ghana lineup (4-3-3): Wollacott (GK) — Mensah, Djiku, Amartey, Odoi — Baba, Kudus, Partey — Fatawa, Afena-Gyan, Ayew
Ghana subs (12): Ofori, Narudeen, Owusu, Korsah, Yiadom, Aidoo, Kyereh, Yeboah, Mumin, Paintsil, Bukari, Wriedt, Akpeyi
It’s an exciting lineup for Nigeria, with a dangerous front four that could trouble Ghana. There’s no Ndidi in midfield, who could be missed.
Nigeria lineup (4-2-3-1): Uzoho (GK) — Zaidu, Balogun, Troost-Ekong, Aina — Aribo, Innocent — Simon, Iheanacho, Chukwueze — Osimhen
Nigeria subs (12): Akpeyi, Noble, Etebo, Musa, Dennis, Onyeka, Ighalo, Sadiq, Ajayi, Omeruo, Bassey, Lookman