Nigeria 2-1 Ghana: Super Eagles hold on for derby win – LIVE! – Evening Standard
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Nigeria vs Ghana LIVE!
Nigeria restored some confidence with a narrow friendly win over West African rivals Ghana in Friday’s friendly match in Marrakesh, despite the absence of Victor Osimhen. Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers netted a first-half penalty awarded for handball, with Ademola Lookman also firing home late off the bench after the Black Stars had been reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Jerome Opoku.
Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew almost set up a grandstand finish with his cool stoppage-time penalty after Bright Osayi-Samuel had brought down Antoine Semenyo, but there was not enough time for spirited Ghana to find a last-gasp equaliser in an entertaining showdown in Morocco. Victory over their rivals will give Nigeria an undoubted lift after last month’s galling Africa Cup of Nations final defeat by hosts Ivory Coast, with interim coach and Super Eagles legend Finidi George hoping to earn the full-time manager’s job in the weeks ahead.
Another defeat for Ghana to follow their latest abysmal AFCON campaign in which they crashed out in the group stage in embarrassing fashion again, but an experimental side missing several key names gave plenty of reasons for cautious optimism for returning coach Otto Addo ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with Uganda. Follow Nigeria vs Ghana live below!
Nigeria vs Ghana highlights
Live updates
So, Nigeria hold on for a morale-boosting win to get some confidence back after their agonising Africa Cup of Nations final defeat by Ivory Coast last month.
It wasn’t a vintage display from the Super Eagles by any means without the likes of Victor Osimhen, but it will have done Finidi George’s chances of getting the permanent manager’s job no harm at all ahead of another friendly against Mali in Marrakesh on Tuesday night.
Another tough result to take for Ghana after their latest AFCON no-show, but that was an experimental side missing a lot of key players that pushed Nigeria hard with 10 men.
Plenty of positives to be taken for returning boss Otto Addo, whose side face Uganda on Tuesday.
Full-time
98 mins: We’re playing well over time after that late, late Ghana penalty.
Semenyo’s powerful drive from distance is well held by Nwabali.
95 mins: Coolly done by the Crystal Palace forward, who shows great composure to roll the ball into the corner and send Nwabali the wrong way.
Abdul Fatawu picks the ball out of the net and sprints back to the halfway line.
Surely there isn’t time left for a last-gasp equaliser, is there?
94 mins: Ghana have a late, late penalty in Marrakesh after Semenyo is brought down clumsily by Osayi-Samuel.
Ayew steps up to take…
90 mins: Full credit to Ghana, who are still not giving up here.
Semenyo heads off target from close range from the resulting corner and hurts himself in the process.
The Bournemouth man has certainly had his chances in Marrakesh.
Five minutes of added time have been signalled as Ghana prepare another couple of late changes.
88 mins: Do Ghana have anything left now?
Ayew lines up a shot on goal from another free-kick and it’s tipped behind by Nwabali!
The Crystal Palace stalwart has been a real danger from set-pieces this afternoon.
84 mins: Game, set and match!
A brilliant finish from substitute Lookman as he rifles beyond the helpless Ati-Zigi from inside the box to surely secure the bragging rights for Nigeria.
The impressive resolve of 10-man Ghana is finally broken.
79 mins: Ayew’s short free-kick tees up Lamptey, whose driven effort is tipped over by Nwabali.
The 10 men are far from done here.
Ayew delivers the corner from the right but Nigeria manage to clear their lines.
78 mins: Tanimu has been down injured for Nigeria but looks okay to continue for now.
Ghana with a decent free-kick chance after a foul on Ernest Nuamah.
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