By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria’s Super Eagles team B on Sunday lost 0-2 to the Black Galaxies of Ghana in the 2023 African Nations Championship qualifier first leg at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
Two second half goals from the Ghanaian side condemned the Nigerian team to defeat.
Heritage Times HT reports that after a good display by the Eagles in the first half which failed to produce a goal either side, it was a different Ghana that resumed in the second half, as the players were more compact as a unit on the field.
Five minutes into the second half, Ghana converted a penalty by Daniel Barnieh.
The goal was the tonic they needed to become more assertive in the game.
The Super Eagles tutored by Coach Salisu Yusuf tried to come back in search of an equaliser, but all their efforts failed to produce any fruitful venture, rather it was Seidu Suraj who sealed the victory for Ghanaians with his 86th minute goal.
The build up to the goal was a class act. It showed a perfect team work, with quick interchange of passes between three Ghanaian players before Suraj hit the ball on goal.
Adeyinka, goalkeeper for Nigeria, tried to punch the ball, but the rebound still found the feet of Suraj and the attacker was second time lucky with his strike, which hit the net for the second goal.
Ghana eliminated Benin in the preliminary round to set up a Jollof derby against bitter rivals Nigeria in the final round of qualifiers.
Super Eagles were hoping to make it to the tournament next year after missing out on the last edition.
The result leaves Nigerian team with some work to do ahead of the return leg, as both teams square off again at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Saturday September 3, 2022.
