Nigeria fail to qualify for 2022 World Cup after 1-1 draw with Ghana

Nigeria failed to book their spot at the 2022 World Cup, as they were only able to play out a 1-1 draw with Ghana on Tuesday.

The West African rivals came into the second leg of the playoff following a goalless draw in Kumasi.

Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen made five changes to the team that played in Kumasi last Friday while his Ghana counterpart Otto Addo stuck to an unchanged XI.

It was an action-packed first 45 minutes at the Moshood Abional National Stadium with Francis Uzoho making a huge error that led to Ghana’s opening goal in the 10th minute.

Arsenal’s Thomas Partey fired a powerful shot from outside the penalty area and it sneaked under the Omonia Nicosia shot-stopper and into the back of the net.

Nigeria responded immediately to the first goal and they got a penalty in the 19th minute after Ademola Lookman was brought down by Dennis Odoi.

The Tunisian referee initially waved off the foul but it was overturned after a VAR review.

Captain William Troost-Ekong stepped up to take the penalty which he converted to get Augustine Eguavoen’s side level.

Four minutes after the half-hour mark, Osimhen had the ball in the back of the net after connecting to a through-ball from Leon Balogun but it was ruled out for offside by the VAR.