Nigeria rebounded from their painful Africa Cup of Nations final defeat last month by narrowly defeating a 10-man Ghana team in a highly anticipated friendly clash on Friday.
This marked Nigeria’s first match since their disappointing loss against hosts Ivory Coast in the AFCON final back in February. Despite missing key players like Victor Osimhen due to injury, the Super Eagles secured a 2-1 victory over their West African rivals in Marrakesh, enhancing interim coach Finidi George’s chances of securing the vacant managerial position on a permanent basis.
Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers opened the scoring for Nigeria with a penalty after Ghana conceded a handball, while Jerome Opoku’s sending off further complicated matters for the Black Stars, who were seeking redemption following a dismal AFCON campaign that led to the dismissal of coach Chris Hughton.
Despite being a player down, Ghana, under returning coach Otto Addo, displayed resilience and determination, with a depleted squad missing key players like Mohammed Kudus and Thomas Partey. Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo squandered several opportunities before Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman sealed the victory with a late goal.
Ghana managed to pull one back in stoppage time through Jordan Ayew’s penalty, but it was not enough to salvage a draw as Nigeria held on for the win. The match, dubbed the ‘Jollof Derby’, provided a morale-boosting victory for Nigeria, who will face Mali in another friendly in Marrakesh on Tuesday as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Ghana will remain in Morocco to take on Uganda on the same night.
