An early goal from Thomas Partey was enough to secure Ghana’s place at the 2022 Qatar World Cup as they beat Nigeria on away goals after a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their qualifying play-off.
William Troost-Ekong’s penalty was not enough to stop the Black Stars from recording a famous result on enemy territory.
Ghana have a lot of improving to do if they are to do anything once they arrive in Qatar, but this represents a huge improvement on their Cup of Nations humiliation when they failed to qualify from their group.
The game started scrappily, with Nigeria in slight ascendancy. And when, on 10 minutes, Partey took aim from just outside the box, no one familiar with his oeuvre will have expected him to score. But Francis Uzoho dived over it at the same time as spilling it, and Ghana were ahead.
Nigeria, though, responded well, and when, on 22 minutes, Ademola Lookman weaved into the box and past Daniel Amartey, Denis Odoi bumped him over; Troost-Ekong punched home the penalty.
Ghana made three changes at half-time and also changed from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2. This gave them greater midfield control, able to protect their defence and move the ball forward with something approximating to aggression.
As such, Nigeria could neither harness momentum nor sustain attacks, Victor Osimhen – the best player on the pitch in the first 45 – becoming increasingly frustrated.
So it is Ghana who move on, and though they have work to do, suddenly, the signs are positive.
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