W’Cup playoffs: Nigeria, Ghana match ends in stalemate, as Egypt beat Senegal
Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Friday night played a goalless draw with the Black Stars of Ghana in the first leg of their 2022 World Cup play-off.
Both sides missed several chances as they settle for a draw in the match which was played in Kumasi, Ghana, ahead of the second leg billed for Abuja next Tuesday.
Inside the fully-packed Baba Yara Stadium, both teams started with a lackluster display, but the tempo increased towards the end of the game.
The game saw the duo of Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey making their debut for the Eagles, as well as the return of a fantastic Francis Uzoho in the goalpost.
Joe Aribo missed two bright chances for Nigeria, first in the opening half and another early in the second half before the Rangers midfielder was substituted.
Moses Simon also missed a clear chance in the 55th minute when his shot following a through ball from Kelechi Iheanacho was saved by the goalkeeper.
The Super Eagles thought they had a penalty in the closing stages after a Ghanaian defender handled the ball inside the box, but it was overturned after a VAR review.
It is therefore all to play for heading into the second leg at Moshood Abiola Stadium on Tuesday night when a place in Qatar between 24 November and 18 December will be won.
Meanwhile, in other playoffs across the continent, the Pharaohs of Egypt secured a 1-0 home victory over the Lions of Senegal in the first leg of their 2022 World Cup playoff on Friday night.
A fourth-minute own goal by Senegal’s Saliou Ciss was enough to give Egypt the victory in Cairo.
Ciss was incredibly unlucky when a shot from Mohamed Salah was pushed on to the bar by Edouard Mendy before striking the defender and going into the net.
Egypt had suffered a defeat to Senegal last month in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, where Sadio Mane scored the winning penalty kick to seal a shootout victory.
Both nations are now battling for a World Cup ticket, and they meet again in the second leg next Tuesday, with the winner qualifying for November’s tournament in Qatar.
Algeria are a foot into the 2022 World Cup after they secured a 1-0 away victory over Cameroon in the first leg of their playoff on Friday night.
The game in Douala saw Cameroon lose a game in that city for the first time since losing a Nations Cup qualifier in 2000.
It was veteran Islam Slimani that fired in the winner to hand Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi the perfect 46th birthday present.
The former AFCON champions will host the Indomitable Lions in Algiers next Tuesday to finish the job they have started.
Earlier on Friday, Tunisia picked up a 1-0 win over their hosts Mali while Morocco snatched a 1-1 draw away to Democratic Republic of Congo.
