Black Stars to leave Ghana on Sunday for Nigeria return leg in Abuja
The Black Stars of Ghana will leave the country on Sunday for the second leg of the World Cup playoff against Nigeria in Abuja.
An exciting young Black Stars team held the Super Eagles to a goalless draw in Kumasi on Friday night, leaving the second leg open for the taking.
The team will return to Accra on Saturday for a little shake up at the Accra Sports stadium before leaving for Abuja on Sunday. Ghana will travel via a chattered flight.
The Black Stars will then train at the Mashood Abiola stadium on Monday, the venue for the crucial second leg.
In the first leg at the Baba Yara sports stadium, coach Otto Addo handed debuts to Dennis Odoi and Felix Afena-Gyan, both of whom impressed.
Ghana had chances to take the lead, with Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Mohammed Kudus coming close at either side of the half.
Afena-Gyan could have give Ghana the lead deep in second half after a corner kink from Kudus evaded everyone.
Meanwhile, Nigeria gave Ghana a scare when the referee awarded a penalty only for the decision to be reversed by VAR.
The second leg will be played on Tuesday night at the Mashood Abiola stadium.
How the game ended 0-0 at Baba Yara Sports Stadium
Ghana and Nigeria played out to a goalless draw in first leg of FIFA World Cup playoff at Baba Yara Sports stadium in Friday night football.
Ghana started the game brightly and just a minute into the match won a corner which was wasted by the Black Stars before AS Roma teen sensation Felix Afena-Gyan half volleyed a half chance three minutes later.
A defensive mishap by Nigeria nearly saw Ghana profiting but a quick tackle from Leon Balugon prevented Fatawu Issahaku from taking a shot.
Few minutes later, Afena-Gyan tried to outwit Trost-Ekong before forcing a strike which was kept out and just on the hour mark, Fatawu Issahaku nearly grabbed the opener after firing from outside the box only to be parried away by Francis Uzoho.
Nigeria had their moments in the first half with Victor Osimhen and Joe Aribo coming close in the final ten minutes of the half.
The Black Stars controlled the half but had nothing to show for it as the half remained barren.
Ghana returned from the break determined to get a goal but it was Nigeria who had the best of opportunity early in the half, when Moses Simon pulled a great save from Jojo Wollacot.
With twenty minutes left Mohammed Kudus weaved his way into the box before firing but Uzoho was there to save Nigeria, forcing the ball off for corner kick.
Nigeria were awarded a penalty after Iddrisu Baba had his hand to the ball but a VAR check reversed the decision.
Coach Otto Addo replaced Fatawu Issahaku with Osman Bukari, who added the some fire power in attacker with his marauding runs.
However, the end product was not there for the Black Stars as the game ended in a goalless stalemate.
