Despite the thunderous cheers from more than 40,000 supporters of the Black Stars of Ghana at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, the Ghanaian squad failed to snatch the vital victory as the Super Eagles of Nigeria held them to a goalless draw.
The match played on Friday night in Kumasi, Ghana was the first leg of the two-leg encounter for the 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off.
The match started with the Black Stars showing some dazzling skills and dominated proceedings, which earned them roaring cheers from their supporters.
Although the dominance of the Black Stars in the first half was short-lived, the Ghanaians were able to take a few of their chances, which the Super Eagles goalkeeper Francis Uzoho and defenders were able to contain.
However, the highlight of the game for the Ghanaians included the off-target attempt in the third minute of the game by Afena-Gyan Felix and the 15th minute counter attack by Abdul Fatawu, which was checked by the timely sliding tackle by Nigerian defender Leon Balogun.
The Super Eagles lifted their game in the first half with two good attempts at goal by Victor Osimhen and Joe Aribo whose efforts were frustrated by Ghanaian keeper Joojo Wollacott.
The first half was, however, balanced in terms of the pressured mounted by the home team and the ability of the visitors to ward off the attacks.
The second half produced more goal scoring chances which were squandered by the two teams. For instance, the best chance of the Super Eagles was in the 55th minute when Simon Moses failed to convert a through pass and shot straight at the Ghanaian keeper, who caught the ball.
The Super Eagles were also denied a penalty call by the referee when in the 76th minute, Baba Iddrisu handled the ball, but it was turned down by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which spotted a foul on the Ghanaian defensive midfielder.
The Ghanaians players had a few goal scoring chances which they failed to convert, including Mohammed Kudus strike in the second half, which was saved by the Nigerian keeper.
The coaches of the two teams made some changes during the second half, but the new players introduced could not get the needed goals, However, the credit for the goalless score line belong to the two goalkeepers, who worked hard to ensure that their teams did not concede any goals.
The second leg of the play-off is on Tuesday, March 29, at the 60,000-capacity Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja,
GIK/APA