Nigeria defender Leon Balogun questions use of away goals rule in Africa after World Cup qualification defeat to Ghana

Published on: 09 December 2022

Nigeria defender Leon Balogun wants the use of the away goals rule in Africa to be scrapped following their World Cup qualification defeat to Ghana.

Ghana held Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in the final play-offs of the 2022 World Cup at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja to seal qualification to the global showpiece.

The first leg in Kumasi ended goalless and goals from Thomas Partey and William Troost-Ekong ensured the return game also ended all square to leave the tie at 1-1 on aggregate after 180 minutes, but the Black Stars claimed the ticket to Qatar 2022 on the away goals rule.

"It is funny because that season, the away goals rule had been scrapped everywhere. I don’t know why they didn’t do it in Africa…I have no clue."

"Until this day, I don’t understand," Balogun told The Beautiful Game.

Black Stars crashed out of the World Cup after finishing bottom of Group H with three points.

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