Africa Cup of Countries runners-up Nigeria claimed a 2-1 pleasant victory over Ghana in an international pleasant match on Saturday.
Targets in each half from Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers and Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman were sufficient to stable victory in opposition to the 10-man Shadowy Stars, who had defender Jerome Opoku sent off early in the 2d length.
The Spacious Eagles, overwhelmed by the host nation Ivory Waft on the AFCON final in February, were the stronger of the perimeters for quite so much of the competition in front of a shut to-empty Stade de Marrakech in Morocco, despite the fact that the sport ended with a ways extra uncertainty than coach Finidi George would have confidence loved after Jordan Ayew converted a stoppage-time penalty.
MORE: When and where is the following AFCON tournament?
Contents
Nigeria vs Ghana obtain
| Fulltime | Goalscorers | |
| Nigeria | 2 | Dessers (p) 38′, Lookman 84′ |
| Ghana | 1 | J. Ayew (p) 90+5′ |
Lineups:
Nigeria XI (3-4-3, aesthetic to left): 23. Stanley Nwabali (GK) — 6. Semi Ajayi, 21. Chidozie Awaziem, 5. Benjamin Tanimu — 2. Colorful Osayi-Samuel, 8. Frank Onyeka, 4. Wilfred Ndidi, 13. Bruno Onyemaechi — 14. Kelechi Iheanacho, 9. Cyriel Dessers, 17. Alex Iwobi
Ghana XI (4-2-3-1, aesthetic to left): 1. Lawrence Ati-Zigi (GK) — 2. Alidu Seidu, 5. Edmund Addo, 19. Jerome Opoku, 17. Patrick Kpozo, — 26. Baba Idrissu, 21. Abdul Samed Salis — 24. Ernest Nuamah, 8. Forson Amankwaa, 9. Jordan Ayew — 25. Antoine Semenyo
MORE: Olympic football blueprint 2024
Kelechi Iheanacho drew a correct attach from Lawrence Ati-Zigi with a highly effective half-volley and nearly put of dwelling up an opening goal with a teasing free-kick that precipitated uncertainty in the Ghana penalty divulge.
With around seven minutes left of the first half, Dessers gave Nigeria a deserved lead from the gap after Salis Abdul Samed had been penalised for blocking off a shot with his arm.
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo ballooned a shot over the bar following a fleet rupture as Ghana started the 2d half brightly. Bbut any hope of a comeback used to be diminished when Opoku used to be confirmed a straight red card that left the handful of spectators interior the stadium baffled.
It appeared unclear whether or now not the defender, on mortgage from Leicester Metropolis at Belgian side OH Leuven, had been brushed aside for a raised elbow in an aerial scenario or for announcing something to the referee.
Ghana rallied well in their first match beneath fresh coach Otto Addo, with change Tariq Lamptey coming shut with a curling effort from the perimeter of the field. Alternatively, the competition used to be successfully ended in the 84th minute when Lookman powered dwelling a stop from interior the field after correct work from the spectacular Alex Iwobi.
There were to be about a nervy moments for the Spacious Eagles on the very stop. After Ayew confidently scored a penalty of his private in the fifth minute of added time, Nwabali used to be all but again called into action in the final seconds to retain the slender lead.
Nigeria face Mali subsequent Tuesday in one other pleasant sooner than their 2026 World Cup qualifying advertising and marketing and marketing campaign resumes with a match in opposition to South Africa in June. Mali are Ghana’s subsequent opponents in that qualification cycle, with an exhibition in opposition to Uganda subsequent up this month.
— 🇬🇭 Shadowy Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) March 22, 2024
Nigeria vs Ghana lineups, team news
Nigeria were missing a bunch of key gamers for this match with captain William Troost-Ekong ruled out by damage alongside elephantine-abet Ola Aina and striker Victor Boniface.
Napoli forward Victor Osimhen used to be now not looking ahead to fresh head coach Finidi George, but Premier League well-known person Alex Iwobi played a decisive feature.
Nigeria XI (3-4-3, aesthetic to left): Nwabali (GK) — Ajayi, Awaziem, Tanimu — Osayi-Samuel, Onyeka, Ndidi, Onyemaechi — Iheanacho, Dessers, Iwobi
Nigeria subs: Uzoho, Ojo, Collins, Lookman, Umar, Tella, Dele-Bashiru, Simon,. Yusuf, Onyedika, Bassey, Omeruo
Otto Addo has returned for a 2d spell accountable of Ghana, following their AFCON exit in January, but the major absentee for the Shadowy Stars stays Arsenal’s Thomas Partey.
Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Willams were all integrated in the squad by Addo.
Ghana XI (4-2-3-1, aesthetic to left): Ati-Zigi (GK) — Seidu, Addo, Opuko, Kpozo — Idrissu, Samed Salis — Nuamah, Amankwaa, J. Ayew — Semenyo
Ghana subs: Odoi, Adams, Issahaku, Bukari, Wollacott, Lamptey, Abu, Annan, Nurudeen, Osman, Asare.
Nigeria vs Ghana stay circulate, TV channel
TV and streaming knowledge on this pleasant recreation is miniature old to kickoff with having a wager service BET365 providing a stay streaming service. The option is on the market to all people with a funded memoir or who have confidence placed an appropriate wager in the closing 24 hours.
MORE: Why Saudi Arabia contemplate sure to host FIFA 2034 World Cup