The Super Eagles defeated the Black
Meteors in an international friendly to lift the Transformation Cup in
commemoration of the new Akwa Ibom International Stadium on Friday night.
Nigeria’s home-based Eagles defeated
Ghana U23 1-0 in an international friendly played to commission the Akwa Ibom
International Stadium, Uyo on Friday night.
A first half header from Emem Eduok was
all the Super Eagles, handled by Daniel Amokachi, needed to get past the Black
meteors who had boasted of their intention to spoil
the party.
The Eagles began the game on a bright
note as they got a corner after goalkeeper Richard Ofori deflected Osaguona
Ighodaro's effort. The resultant kick, taken by Gbolahan Salami, was blown
away.
For the first ten minutes of the game,
Nigeria dominated but despite their string of passes, they could not break down
the defence line of the dogged Meteors.
Nigeria’s first real chance came in the
13th minute when Eduok broke free from the right but goalkeeper Ofori was well
positioned to foil the imminent danger.
Daniel Amokachi’s men continued to
dominate with Solomon Kwambe shooting from long range with his effort cleared
for a corner kick.
Eduok put Nigeria in the lead with his
35th minute header after rising to connect to a well-tailored cross from Kwambe
who had overlapped from the Eagles’ defence.
In the 40th minute, Ghana got a chance
to equalize as goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim misjudged a cross by Agyare Benjamin
while Afful could not convert from close range as he fired over the bar.
On resumption of the second half, Ghana
tried to grab an equaliser but poor finishing was their major undoing. Osai
raced into Nigeria's backline then shot tamely at goal with Afful seeing his
acrobatic attempt few minutes later going off target.
Even with the introduction of Kojo Poku
for Noah Martey, coach Malik Jabir’s side lacked the edge to punish the errors
committed by the Nigerian backline – especially from Agbim.
Eduok missed many clear cut chances to
double his side’s lead as he was a marked man. Salami, substitute Mfon Udoh and
Rabiu Ali in turn missed glaring opportunities.
Udoh’s best chance of the night came in
the 71st minute but his strike rattled the top left corner of the cross bar.
Eduok made an amazing run into the Ghana defence before setting up Udoh who
chipped the ball over Ofori then saw his effort hit the wood work even though he
was ruled offside by the referee.
Towards the end of the game, Enoch Ofori
Kumi replaced Latif Amadu while David Opoku replaced Afful but scores stood at
1-0 in favour of Nigeria till the final whistle went.
The Nigerians were then handed the
Transformation Cup by President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Godswill
Akpabio.
Also in attendance were the presidents
of Ghana and Ivory Coast, John Dramani Mahama and Allasane Ouattara.
The ultra-modern Akwa Ibom Stadium will
host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Nigeria and South
Africa on November 19.
Coutesy: Shina Oludare
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