National Teams
Nigeria 2-1 Ghana: Cyril Dessers and Ademola Lookman hand Finidi George winning start
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria’s senior men’s national team pipped their Ghana counterparts 2-1 in an intentional friendly match that took place in Marrakech, Morocco on Friday.
The international friendly was the first between both sides after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire with contrasting fortunes for both teams.
Goals from Cyril Dessers and Ademola Lookman ensured the Afcon 2023 runners-up returned to winning ways since disappointing final lost to the Ivorians in Abidjan two months ago.
The win was interim coach Finidi George’s first after succeeding Jose Peseiro at the helms of the Super Eagles earlier this week.
Defender, Benjamin Tanimu bagged his first appearance for Nigeria as Cyriel Dessers opened the scoring for the three-time African champions from the penalty spot in the 38th minute after an attempt by Kelechi Iheanacho hit a Ghanaian defender’s hand.
They doubled the lead in the 84th minute from good team work resulting in Ademola Lookman scoring the second goal.
The second goal came after the Black Stars were reduced to ten players with red card issues to Jerome Opoku.
Ghana, however, pulled a goal back in the additional minutes of the second half but it couldn’t prevent the Eagles from a win.
Despite the late effort, the Super Eagles held on in the final stages to ensure their win and condemned the Black Stars new coach Otto Addo to a losing start, ending an 18-year winning drought against their West African rivals.
Up next for George’s side is another friendly match against Mali on March 26.