Rédaction Africa Links 24 with James Agberebi
Published on 2024-03-22 20:44:39
Nigeria’s Super Eagles emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against the Black Stars of Ghana, securing a 2-1 win in an international friendly match held in Marrakech, Morocco. This victory marked a successful start for George Finidi as the interim coach of the Super Eagles, with Cyriel Dessers and Ademola Lookman contributing the crucial goals for the Nigerian team. On the other hand, Jordan Ayew managed to score a consolation goal for the Black Stars from a penalty kick in the dying moments of the game.
The result highlighted a period of struggle for the Black Stars, as they have now gone six games without a win, including three losses and three draws. Otto Addo, who recently took over the reins as the head coach of the Black Stars, faced a challenging introduction to his new role with this defeat. The Ghanaian team also had to cope with playing with 10 men for most of the second half due to Jerome Opoku receiving a red card.
Throughout the match, the Super Eagles dominated the scoring opportunities but were thwarted by the Ghanaian goalkeeper and their own profligate finishing. However, their persistence paid off when Dessers successfully converted a penalty kick in the 38th minute after a handball by a Black Stars player. The momentum swung even further in Nigeria’s favor when Opoku was sent off in the 56th minute for a foul.
Taking advantage of their numerical superiority, the Super Eagles extended their lead in the 84th minute thanks to a goal from Lookman. Despite Ayew pulling one back for Ghana in stoppage time with another penalty, it was too little, too late for the Black Stars as Nigeria held on to secure the victory.
The match showcased the resilience and determination of the Super Eagles under the guidance of Finidi, who will be encouraged by this positive result as he looks to build a strong foundation for the Nigerian national team. The rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana added an extra layer of intensity to the encounter, making the victory even sweeter for the Super Eagles and their supporters.
Overall, the 2-1 win against the Black Stars in this international friendly will serve as a confidence boost for the Super Eagles as they continue their preparations for upcoming competitive fixtures. It was a hard-fought and well-deserved victory that highlighted the talent and potential of the Nigerian team under Finidi’s leadership. Nigeria’s football fans can look forward to brighter days ahead as the Super Eagles strive for more success on the international stage.
