Ghana advanced to the World Cup finals in Qatar in November with a hard-earned 1-1 road draw against Nigeria, as they qualify through the away goal rule after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
Ghana took the lead early on after Arsenal's Thomas Partey fired in a strike from the edge of the box which went through goalkeeper Francis Uzoho in the Nigerian goal. The goalkeeper error gave the away side the lead early on.
Nigeria then took control of the game and equalized after Ademola Lookman was brought down in the Ghana box by Dennis Odoi. The decision went to VAR and William Troost-Ekong made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Nigeria thought they'd taken the lead in the 34th minute but were aggrieved when VAR ruled out Victor Osimhen's strike for offside.
Nigeria dominated the second half with 60 percent possession and managed nine shots, but only one managed to bring Ghana goalkeeper Joe Wollacott into action.
Ghana held on for five minutes of added time as they advanced to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2014.
HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the goals from Nigeria-Ghana
Nigeria vs. Ghana final score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Nigeria | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ghana | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Aggregate Score: 1-1
(Ghana qualify through away goal tiebreaker)
Goals:
GHA — Thomas Partey — 10th min.
NIG — William Troost-Ekong (penalty) — 21st min.
(All times Eastern)
Final: Nigeria 1, Ghana 1
Full-time: Ghana qualify for the World Cup Finals
95th min.: Nigeria launching long ball after long ball but Ghana defending brilliantly to clear the ball time after time.
90th min.: Five minutes of added time! Five minutes for Nigeria to save their skin.
It's a late change for Ghana as Kwasi Okyere Wriedt comes on for Felix Afena-Gyan.
84th min.: Chance for Nigeria! A long ball was challenged by Ighalo and the header fell to Osihem fires another acrobatic scissor kick just wide! Nigeria running out of time here...
78th min.: Two substitutions for Nigeria here!
- Odion Ighalo is on for Emmanuel Dennis
- Ahmed Musa replaces Oghenekaro Etebo
73rd min.: A quiet period of the game but there's another substitution from Ghana, this time it's Osman Bukari on for Mohammed Kudus.
61st min.: Substitution for Nigeria! It's Ademola Lookman making way for Nantes striker Moses Simon in a like-for-like switch.
59th min.: Osihem is involved in the action again but fires his acrobatic overhead kick attempt wide.
54th min.: Slow start after the break but Emmanuel Dennis goes close from a corner with the first bit of real action in the second half.
46th min.: Changes for both sides at the break, with Ghana making three substitutions!
- E. Owusu on for J. Ayew
- D. Kyereh on for A. Fatawu
- A. Yiadom on for I. Baba
Nigeria also make one change with Abdullahi Shehu on for Frank Onyeka.
Halftime: Nigeria 1, Ghana 1
Halftime: Even at the break with Troost-Ekong's penalty cancelling out Thomas Partey's early goal. Nigeria are on top, but it's Ghana who are on course to qualify on away goals as it stands.
𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐅-𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄! ⏰
— CAF (@CAF_Online) March 29, 2022
🇳🇬 Nigeria 1-1 Ghana 🇬🇭
An entertaining first half between the two sides ends all square. 🤝#WorldCup | #WCQ pic.twitter.com/9gXEyStO3p
45th min.: There will be four minutes of added time at the end of the first half!
38th min.: Nigeria dominating the play now with 8 shots and 64% possession!
Nigeria 1 vs Ghana 1 👀👀
— GOAL Africa (@GOALAfrica) March 29, 2022
The African GIANTS mean business 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 #NigeriaGhana pic.twitter.com/0BOkTqnaUx
37th min.: The Nigerian goal is scratched for offside.
The through ball to set Osimhen away was reviewed by far as he was ahead of Djiku.
34th min.: Goal for Nigeria! Osimhen strikes. But a VAR check is underway...
27th min.: Nothing comes from the free kick as it is fired into the wall. Nigeria are slowly taking control of the game, especially since the goal.
26th min.: Yellow Card for Ghana's Daniel Amartey! He makes the foul just outside the box, as Nigeria have a great chance here!
22nd min.: GOAL FOR NIGERIA! Troost-Ekong makes no mistake from the spot as Nigeria draw level!
Nerves of steel from William Troost Ekong. He has real character.
— John Bennett (@JohnBennettBBC) March 29, 2022
20th min.: Penalty for Nigeria! Ademola Lookman powers into the box but is caught by Dennis Odoi and the referee overturns the original decision!
19th min.: VAR check for a possible penalty for Nigeria.
10th min.: Goal for Ghana! Thomas Partey with the long-range effort!
Partey receives the ball from the corner and fires in a powerful shot, but Francis Uzoho in the Nigerian goal makes a vital error as he lets the shot go through him!
Thomas Partey sneaks one under the keeper! Black Stars have a goal in Abuja 🇬🇭
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 29, 2022
(@espnplus) pic.twitter.com/TO0nPALkLg
6th min.: Quiet start to the game, neither team able to create any real chances. It's clearly a very nervy and tense affair so far...
1st min.: KICK OFF IN ABUJA! HERE WE GO...
12:56: p.m: Ghana's lineup announced. Thomas Partey captains his side here, with Felix Afena-Gyan fit to start!
🇬🇭Ghana line up against 🇳🇬Nigeria. #NGAGHA #TheFinalPush pic.twitter.com/98ve9axSaT
— Juliet Bawuah (@julietbawuah) March 29, 2022
12:54 p.m: Nigeria's lineup announced. Five Changes for the home side!
Star man Victor Osihmen starts, as does Leciester City's Ademola Lookman!
How the Nigerians 🇳🇬 line up against Ghana 🇬🇭!! #GTVSports #Qatar2022 #NGAGHA pic.twitter.com/rH7AcCVds7
— GTV SPORTS+ (@mygtvsports) March 29, 2022
12:30 p.m.: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏! 🤩
Which 5️⃣ countries will represent Africa in the #WorldCup? 🌍#WCQ pic.twitter.com/aUF0R9VEpe
— CAF (@CAF_Online) March 29, 2022
Nigeria vs. Ghana lineups
Nigeria starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): Uzoho (GK) — Bassey, Balogun, Troost-Ekong, Aina — Etebo, Aribo, Onyeka — Lookman, Simon, Osimhen
Ghana starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): Wollacott — Odoi, Mensah, Amartey, Djiku— Kudas, Baba, Partey — Ayew, Fataw, Afena-Gyan