Nigeria's Super Eagles recorded their first win over Ghana in 18 years after beating the Black Stars 2-0 in an international friendly on Friday, March 22, in Marrakech, Morroco.
A dominant performance by the Super Eagles was capped off by a well-taken penalty by Cyriel Dessers and a second-half strike by Ademola Lookman, while Jordan Ayew’s late strike only ended up as consolation for Ghana.
With several key players ruled out of the game due to injury, including Victor Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong and Ola Aina, interim boss Finidi George named a few new faces in his starting line-up.
Stanley Nwabali maintained his position between the sticks after his impressive displays at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) in Ivory Coast as Nigeria lined up in a familiar 3-4-3 formation.
The back three was made up of Semi Ajayi, Chidozie Awaziem and Benjamin Tanimu, while Bruno Onyemaechi and Bright Osayi-Samuel played as wing-backs.
Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka lined up as the midfield pair, with Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Cyriel Dessers leading the attack. Nigeria made a bright start to the game and created a couple of good chances in the opening quarter of an hour, with Ghana struggling to cope in the early exchanges.
Dessers, Lookman score against Ghana
Iheanacho was the first to go close after carving out a chance from the left flank, but his curling effort was saved by Ghana’s goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi.
The Super Eagles continued to enjoy the larger share of possession and nearly opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Dessers was left unmarked in the box but the striker’s tame effort let him down.
Iheanacho had perhaps the best chance of the opening when he was played through on goal but his shot was straight at Ati Zigi, who punched the ball out for a corner.
Nigeria’s dominance finally paid off in the 34th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Jerome Opoku was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. Dessers elected himself to take the penalty and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to break the deadlock.
While the Black Stars were passive for large spells, they went close to snatching the equaliser against the run of play in the 41st minute after Antoine Semenyo was allowed time and space in front of Nwabali but the Bournemouth forward blasted his shot off target.
It went from bad to worse for Ghana when Opoku was sent off just 10 minutes into the second half, with the Black Stars playing the final half-hour with 10 men.
Super Eagles beat Ghana for the first time in 18 years
Nigeria took full advantage of their numerical advantage, with substitutes Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman combining to double their lead. Lookman received a pass from Simon on the edge of the box and coolly slotted the ball past the onrushing Ati Zigi to make it 2-0.
Ghana would, however, finish the game as a stronger side after Otto Addo ran the changes, bringing on Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Ibrahim Osman for some attacking impetus. The Black Stars would earn an opportunity to half the deficit late in the game after being awarded a penalty, which Jordan Ayew expertly converted.
Despite piling on pressure late on, Nigeria held to record a 2-1 victory over their West African rivals. The result also saw the Super Eagles win their first game against Ghana in 18 years, having last beaten the Black Stars at the 2006 AFCON before that.
Meanwhile, Nigeria will now turn their attention to their next assignment, which is another friendly against Mali on Tuesday, March 26. Ghana will also be aiming to return to winning ways when they take on Uganda in four days' time.
