Watch: How Nigeria Beat Ghana in friendly Game

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23 Mar 2024

Cyriel Dessers and Ademola Lookman propel Nigeria to a win against their historic adversaries Ghana.

The Super Eagles secured victory in the 'Jollof Derby' with a 2-1 win against the Black Stars on Friday evening, claiming bragging rights.

Match Report (Nigeria vs Ghana)

The opening half was a cagey affair, with both sides adopting a cautious approach. Nigeria, under the guidance of coach Finidi George, opted for a possession-based strategy, while Ghana, led by Otto Addo, focused on defensive solidity and hitting the Super Eagles on the counter.

The early stages of the match were characterized by a scrappy affair, lacking fluidity from either side. However, Nigeria gradually intensified their pressure, leading to a penalty awarded for a handball in the box after 34 minutes. Cyriel Dessers converted the penalty, giving Nigeria a 1-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Ghana showed more purpose in attack, but suffered a setback when Jerome Opoku was sent off in the 56th minute under unclear circumstances.

Despite being a player down, Ghana continued to push for an equalizer, but Ademola Lookman extended Nigeria's lead with a goal in the 84th minute.

Ghana managed to pull one back with a penalty converted by Jordan Ayew in stoppage time, but Nigeria held on to win 2-1.

Despite their loss, the Ghanaian players deserve praise for their resilience and determination throughout the match, which culminated in a late goal during the dying moments. Their perseverance despite being a player down and facing a deficit on the scoreboard showcased their commitment to fighting until the end.

This late goal not only demonstrated their skill but also highlighted their refusal to give up, even when the odds were against them. Such resilience is a testament to the spirit and character of the Ghanaian team, earning them admiration despite the final result.

Bright Osayi-Samuel's late foul led to Ghana scoring a goal, preventing Nigeria from securing a clean-sheet victory against their rivals. This outcome could have been avoided had the foul not occurred. Despite the disappointment of conceding late, the Nigerian team now looks ahead to their upcoming friendly against Mali on Tuesday, March 26th.

On the other hand, Ghana will also be in action on the same day, facing Uganda in their upcoming match. Both teams will be eager to bounce back from their recent results and showcase their strengths in the upcoming fixtures.