2024 CHAN: Nigeria seals qualification with 3-1 victory over Ghana
Nigeria booked their spot on the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a 3-1 victory over Ghana on the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday.
The victory ensured that Super Eagles B will characteristic within the match’s eighth version, set to happen throughout Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda in February 2025.
The match was a spectacular showcase of Nigeria’s dominance, with three well-crafted objectives in simply six minutes.
Despite Ghana’s coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani expressing confidence earlier than the sport, it was Nigeria that dictated proceedings from the outset. Captain Junior Nduka’s pinpoint lengthy go within the 18th minute discovered Ismaila Sodiq, who effortlessly beat the offside entice and fired previous goalkeeper Benjamin Asare to open the scoring.
Two minutes later, Nigeria almost doubled their lead, however Adamu Abubakar’s effort was deflected simply broad by Ghanaian defender Abban Ebenezer. From the ensuing nook kick, Nduka capitalised on a lapse in Ghana’s defence to fit dwelling Nigeria’s second aim.
The Super Eagles added their third within the twenty third minute after a defensive mix-up between Asare and Nurudeen Abdulai allowed Saviour Isaac to pounce and calmly end previous the stranded goalkeeper.
Ghana managed to drag one again within the 72nd minute when Stephen Amankona’s fast interaction with Albert Amoah resulted in a well-placed shot previous Nigerian goalkeeper Henry Ozoemena. However, it was merely a comfort as Nigeria celebrated their return to CHAN on the expense of their archrivals.
The victory capped a yr of disappointment for Ghana, following the Black Stars’ early exit on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), failure to qualify for subsequent yr’s AFCON, and the shortcoming of the Black Starlets to safe a spot within the Africa U17 Cup of Nations.
Nigeria will now give attention to getting ready for the 2024 CHAN finals, aiming to enhance on their earlier silver medal end in Morocco in 2018.
