Black Galaxies of Ghana played out a pulsating 0-0 draw against Nigeria at the Ohene Gyan Stadium in the first leg of the playoff round of the 2024 CHAN qualifiers.
Coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani started goalkeeper Benjamin Asare in post alongside Black Stars duo Razak Simpson and Isaac Afful. Captain Issah Yakubu, Stephen Amankona, Albert Amoah, all made the cut.
The Galaxies commenced the game with so much confidence and played like the typical home side having made numerous goal incursions but couldn't make them count.
The Nigerians subsequently settled down and matched their hosts very well with their physique making it difficult for their Ghanaian counterparts to get into their territory.
In the dying embers of the first half, the Super Eagles B came so close to scoring with a counter break initiated by Adamu Abubakar but was stopped by Ebenezer Abban with his hand and eventually resulted into a dangerous free kick at a very good position.
Captain Junior Nduka stepped up but his delivery went wide as it finished goalless at half time.
In the second half, the Black Galaxies once again returned on a higher note as Heart of Lions attacker Mustapha Yakubu came in field from the right flanks but his strike was gathered calmly by goalkeeper Ozoemena Ani.
Nigeria came so close to breaking the deadlock in the 58th minute but Papa Daniel Mustafa unfortunately had his deflected strike come off the woodwork. That was close!
Ghana really upped the ante at some point following the substitutions made by coach Didi Dramani and nearly scored twice from their newly-adopted wing-play but were all checked by the Nigeria defense.
Both nations really took the game at each other having had some chances at their disposal but all proved futile as it ended goalless at full time.
The return encounter is slated for Saturday, December 28, in Uyo. The winner will advance to the 2024 African Nations Championship which will be held in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
