In a closely contested friendly match, Nigeria claimed a victory against their West African counterparts, Ghana, on Friday in Marrakesh.
The win was particularly noteworthy as it came without star player Victor Osimhen on the field.
Cyriel Dessers of Rangers was successful in converting a penalty in the first half due to a handball incident. Later in the game, substitute Ademola Lookman scored, capitalizing on Ghana’s reduced squad after Jerome Opoku was sent off.
Jordan Ayew of Crystal Palace nearly turned the game around with a penalty in stoppage time, following a foul by Bright Osayi-Samuel on Antoine Semenyo. However, Ghana couldn’t secure an equalizer in the remaining moments of this thrilling match in Morocco.
This triumph is a significant morale booster for Nigeria, following the disappointment of losing the Africa Cup of Nations final to Ivory Coast last month. Interim coach Finidi George, a revered figure in Nigerian football, is looking to solidify his position as the permanent manager in the near future.
For Ghana, this loss adds to the disappointment of their poor performance at AFCON 2023, where they were eliminated early. Despite missing key players, the team showed promise, giving coach Otto Addo something to build on before their next game against Uganda.
