Ghana’s 2024 Championship for Africa Nations first leg qualifiers against Nigeria got off to drab start at the almost empty Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday evening.
The Black Galaxies first half performance looked slightly above Nigeria but short of an output that would result into goals. Ghana made the first dangerous attack in the 10th minute when right back Kamaradini Mamudu headed in a free kick but it ended straight into the arms of Nigeria goalkeeper Henry Uzoemena Ani.
The Black Galaxies came close once again on the 17th minute when left winger Stephen Amankona found himself in an advantage but he shot against an opponent in the goal area much to the shock of the sparse fans that attended the game.
The home based Ghana Black Stars continued their incursions on the right wing with Mustapha Yakubu whose well floated ball was quickly cleared out by Nigeria for a corner kick on the 28th minute. Nigeria however managed to come close on the half hour mark when captain Junior Harrison Nduka’s free kick went clipped the post of Black Galaxies keeper Benjamin Asare’s goal.
The first goal could have arrived for Ghana with four minutes to close the first half but striker Manuel Mantey shot wide leaving the first half barren. The second half saw Nigeria raising the level of their play and nearly found the opener with a thunderbolt from Idris Babajide which struck the upright on the 57th minute.
A quick recovery from midfield placed Ghana striker Jerry Afriyie at a scoring advantage. However, the resilient Nigeria side would block their lines with absolute finesse.
Ghana failed to come out of their shells, struggling to string passes together with Nigeria looking slightly better in the second half. The score line stood goalless with the return encounter set for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, December 28.
The winner of both legs qualifies for the main tournament to be staged next year among Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
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