Ghana scored two second half goals to down Nigeria 2-0 in the 1st leg of the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) Algeria 2022 final round qualifier on Sunday evening.
Daniel Afriyie Barnieh and Seidu Suraj got on target in the second half after both sides went into the break without a goal at the Cape Coast stadium.
Nigeria put up an impressive form in the first half as they pinned and clipped the wings of the Black Galaxies in the opening stages of the game but Ghana settled later on and took control of the exchanges.
Despite Nigeria having a lion’s share of possession, Jonah Attuquaye got a lovely chance to give Ghana an early lead but the diminutive winger failed to connect Augustine Randolph’s cross in the 4th minute.
The Super Eagles had their share of the attempts in the 22nd minute after Adamu Abubakar’s header went wide from a corner-kick.
The Black Galaxies paraded a backline that comprised of Danlad Ibrahim, Augustine Randolph, Mohammed Alhassan, Konadu Yiadom and Dennis Korsah. Evans Osei Wusu and Jonah Attuquaye played on the wings with Gladson Awako and Kasim Razak sitting deep to push up Seidu Suraj and Daniel Afriyie Barnieh. The physical nature of the Nigerian defence neutralized Evans Osei Wusu as he was pulled out and replaced by David Abagna Sandan.
The Real Tamale United player nearly got the breakthrough for the Black Galaxies but his header went a whisker over the bar.
Ghana finally broke the deadlock – one minute after the break as Daniel Afriyie Barnieh converted a spot kick to give his side the lead after Nigerian defender Oluwatosin Emmanuel Adegbite handled the ball in the box leading to a penalty.
Abagna came close with the second goal in the 56th minute but his curled shot from the edge of the box went few inches wide.
Ghana then took control of the game with some delectable displays following the introduction of Umar Bashiru and Agyenim Boateng Mensah for Gladson Awako and Jonah Attuquaye.
Seidu Suraj made it 2-0 for Ghana as he pounced on a rebound to smash home – with Nigerian goalkeeper Adewale Adeyinka Sunday completely beating.
The second leg of this tie comes off next Saturday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
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