Super Eagles earned a 2-1 win over Ghana on Wednesday night at the Gtech Community Stadium in London to qualify for the Unity Cup final on Wednesday.
Eric Chelle started the likes of Stanley Nwabali, Semi Ajayi, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Samuel Chukwueze, Sikiru Alimi, and Cyril Dessers.
Dessers broke the deadlock in the 14th minute with a close range finish following a darting run which resulted in a pinpoint cross from Sodiq Ismaila, and Dessers took full advantage of a defender who slipped while trying to clear the ball, chested down brilliantly and fired past goalkeeper Benjamin Asare.
Five minutes later, another audacious move resulted in another goal. Samuel Chukwueze sent the ball into the box from a free-kick 25 yards out, and defender Semi Ajayi’s header saw the ball deflected off the body of a defender to wrongfoot Asare for Nigeria’s second.
A roar went out from the large Ghanaian population in the stadium when goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a mistake while trying to kick the ball to defender Igoh Ogbu, but the South Africa-based safe hands made a one-handed save to parry the resulting effort away from goal.
Asare denied Sikiru Alimi in the 32nd minute, and at the other end, the Remo Stars’ forward was on hand to head the ball to safety as Ghana launched with a free-kick from the left.
Skipper Jordan Ayew was a thorn in the Eagles’ flesh throughout the second half, and his combination with Christopher Bonsu Baah and Brandon Thomas Asante eventually produced the Black Stars’ only goal with 20 minutes left.
Ayew came pretty close to netting the equalizer in the 77th minute, but missed the target.
Nigeria will take on Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz in Saturday’s final, while the Black Stars take on the Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago in the third-place match starting at 12.30pm.
Jamaica edged another thrilling game on Tuesday, beating the Soca Warriors 3-2 with a penalty kick in added time, and will file out against the Super Eagles at 5pm on Saturday.
