Good evening and welcome to the live text coverage of the crucial encounter between Nigeria and Ghana.
The Super Eagles are set to host the Black Stars this evening in the second leg of the playoff tie of the African qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament.
The first leg of the playoff tie was staged at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium last Friday in Kumasi.
After a good display from both national teams, the game eventually ended goalless with the Super Eagles returning to Nigeria as the happy side.
Subsequently, Ghana’s team travelled to Abuja on Monday and managed to hold a training session later in the evening.
With the stage, all set today, the deciding fixture for a ticket to the 2022 FIFA World Cup is about to go down.
The crucial encounter between Nigeria and Ghana will kick off today at the Moshood Abiola National Sports Stadium.
The kickoff is at 17:00GMT.
As usual in the qualifiers, the footballghana team is on standby to provide minute by minute updates of the action as it happens at the stadium.
Off to the match venue #WCQ2022 | #BringBackTheLove | #GoBlackStarsGo | #GoGhana pic.twitter.com/X1WnOIxjpX
— Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) March 29, 2022
Ahead of the second leg clash today, Coach Augustine Eguavoen has made several changes to his starting team.
Winger Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze have been dropped to the bench with Ademola Lookman and Emmanuel Dennis coming in to augment the squad.
Below is the Nigeria starting eleven for the Ghana encounter.
Uzoho (G), Aina, Troost-Ekong, Balogun, Bassey, Etebo, Onyeka, Aribo, Lookman, Osimhen, Dennis.
We are 30 minutes away from kick off at the Moshood Abiola National Sports Stadium. Ghana head coach Otto Addo is yet to release his starting eleven for the match.
Here we go!! With 15 minutes to kick off, the Black Stars starting eleven is now out.
🇳🇬 🇬🇭
Our men to do the job 💪 #WCQ2022 | #BringBackTheLove | #GoBlackStarsGo | #GoGhana pic.twitter.com/hjLF1fLPGN
— Black Stars 🇬🇭 (@GhanaBlackstars) March 29, 2022
All is set for this mouthwatering encounter. Who secures qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
First Half:
1' We are off at the Moshood Abiola National Sports Stadium in Abuja. It is Nigeria that kicks us off.
3' This could be a long night for the Black Stars. The charged 60,000 capacity stadium is indeed behind the Super Eagles.
4' Corner kick for Nigeria. Ghana deals with it and breaks away through Mohammed Kudus, the final pass is however too close to the Nigeria goalkeeper who averts the danger.
7' Nigeria clearly riding on the back of the massive cheers from the home supporters. The home team has been the better side in the early minutes.
9' Free kick for Ghana in a dangerous position. A dangerous ball is sent in but Nigeria deals with it.
10' Goal!!! Ghana takes the lead after 10 minutes. Thomas Partey strikes a ferocious effort that beats the Nigerian goalkeeper. The Super Eagles are in trouble.
11' Nigeria almost equalises through danger man Victor Osimhen. His efforts misses the target by a few inches.
14' Pressure starting to mount on Ghana as the home team pushes to draw level. Can Ghana hold on to this advantage?
17' Multiple crosses fly into the Ghana area but the defense inspired by goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott deals with the danger.
19' Wait, there is a problem. The referee goes to watch the VAR, it's a penalty kick for Nigeria.
20' Goal!!! Troost-Ekong scores from 12 yards. Nigeria 1-1 Ghana.
25' The first booking of the game goes to a Ghanaian player. Alexander Djiku commits a foul but Daniel Amartey is the one that is shown a yellow card.
26' Nigeria free-kick just a few steps to the Ghana area. Danger averted as the Black Stars wall does its job.
28' Ghana loses possession in a dangerous area, fortunately, Alexander Djiku is alert and clears the danger.
36' Victor Osimhen has the ball in the back of the Ghana net. Wait, the officials are reviewing the goal for offside.
37' The goal will not stand. Ghana left off the hook there. Game on.
41' Some tired legs are already in the Nigeria team. Their pressing in midfield is however doing the trick for them. Ghana must improve, at least in the second half if the Stars want to qualify for the World Cup.
43' A long ball finds Victor Osimhen, he tries to go past Daniel Amartey but fails to find a way. Thrown-in for Ghana.
45' We will do four minutes of injury time. A lof of time for either side to get a goal.
Halftime: The referee whistles to bring the first half to a close. What a nervy match full of action. We will be back after 15 minutes with the second half action.
Halftime change for Ghana: Baba Iddrisu is replaced by Andy Yiadom. Meanwhile, Daniel Kofi Kyereh and Elisha Owusu have also come on for Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.
Second Half:
46' The game has restarted at the Moshood Abiola National Sports Stadium with Ghana having the first kick.
47' Francis Uzohu under pressure concedes a corner kick. A dangerous-looking ball is sent in by Kofi Kyereh but Nigeria survives.
49' Calls for Ghana corner kick is ignored as the referee awards a goal kick to the Super Eagles.
50' Pressure from Nigeria presents a shooting chance to Joe Aribo. He tries the volley but his effort is wasted.
54' Ghana and Nigeria both playing with a lot of caution now. The next goal will change everything.
57' The stadium has remained charged but still nothing for the home fans to cheer about.
60' We have reached the hour mark at the Moshood Abiola Sports Stadium. Nigeria 1-1 Ghana.
61' Substitution: Ademola Lookman makes way for winger Moses Simon.
62' Mohammed Kudus tries to make things happen for Ghana but he is outmuscled by Ola Aina. It has been a difficult game for the Ajax youngster this evening.
64' Teenager Felix Afena-Gyan twists, turns and fires a shot at goal. It is deflected for a corner. Goal kick for Nigeria.
67' Nerves, nerves, nerves all around. Fans of both Black Stars and Super Eagles are now itching.
69' Pressure beginning to get to the Ghanaians. It's a free-kick for Nigeria in a dangerous area.
70' Ghana goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott makes an important save to keep the scoreline at 1-1.
72' Change for Ghana. Osman Bukari replaces Osman Bukari.
74' Substitute Osman Bukari tries his luck from distance. The short goes over the bar amid calls for a corner kick. Referee awards Nigeria a goal kick instead.
75' We are into the final 15 minutes of this contest. Will there be a late equalizer?
76' Ghana breaks on a counter-attack, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh tries to find the top corner but his effort at goal has too much on it. Goal kick for Nigeria.
77' Substitution: Nigeria brings on Ahmed Musa and Odion Ighalo. The intent is clear, the Super Eagles want to win this one. There is no other option.
80' We are into the last 10 minutes of the second leg of this tough tie. Can Ghana hold on?
83' Nigeria comes forward with real purpose, a loose ball falls to Victor Osimhen but his audacious strike at goal misses the target.
85' Nigeria continues to apply the pressure in Ghana's third, the Black Stars defense is alert and wins possession.
87' Substitution: Sadiq Umar comes on for Calvin Bassey. Nigeria effects a corner kick but Ghana clears, Kofi-Kyereh breaks away and wins a free-kick.
90' The regulation time has been exhausted. We will do five minutes of injury time.
90+2' Moses Simon is behind a free-kick. He goes for goal but his effort is over the bar.
Full Time: It is all over at the Moshood Abiola National Sports Stadium. Ghana is through to the 2022 FIFA World Cup courtesy of the away goal rule.