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 Tremendous 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.
Regardless of 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 lure 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 vast 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 purpose.
The Tremendous 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. Nonetheless, it was merely a comfort as Nigeria celebrated their return to CHAN on the expense of their archrivals.
The victory capped a 12 months of disappointment for Ghana, following the Black Stars’ early exit on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), failure to qualify for subsequent 12 months’s AFCON, and the lack of the Black Starlets to safe a spot within the Africa U17 Cup of Nations.
Nigeria will now concentrate on getting ready for the 2024 CHAN finals, aiming to enhance on their earlier silver medal end in Morocco in 2018.
Anthony Nlebem
Head of Sports activities at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content material Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports activities reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and international sports activities panorama and expertise in delivering complete and insightful sports activities content material.
