Senegal, Cameroon, Morocco, Ghana and Tunisia qualify for 2022 FIFA World Cup

It was a super Tuesday night in Africa as the five African nations heading to Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup were confirmed.

In the early kick-offs, Ghana qualified after playing out a 1-1 draw with Nigeria in Abuja.

The Black Stars achieved this thanks to the away goal rule, as the first leg ended 0-0 in Kumasi.

Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal will represent CAF in the first ever November/December World Cup.

All five qualifiers booked their places at Qatar 2022 by winning two-legged playoffs.

Those playoffs turned out to be largely close affairs,as the away goals rule sent Cameroon and Ghana through, while Senegal beat Egypt in a penalty shootout.

Elsewhere, Tunisia held on for a 0-0 draw against Mali to see them prevail 1-0 on aggregate, while Morocco were the only big winners on Tuesday as they thrashed DR Congo 4-1 (5-2 on aggregate).

It was a very sad evening for football loving Nigerians with a battling performance that came short of earning the 2022 FIFA World Cup ticket for Nigeria as the Super Eagles drew 1-1 with Black Stars of Ghana in their playoff final battle at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja. 
Both teams played a 0-0 draw in Kumasi on Friday.

The Super Eagles set out with great belief in front of a full house at the 60,491 –capacity stadium, and Emmanuel Dennis shaded three defenders only to overhit his cross in the 8th minute.

Ghana shocked the 60,000 cheering spectators when Thomas Partey unleased a shot from 20 yards that surprisingly went past goalkeeper Francis Uzoho into the net for the first goal of the fixture.

Victor Osimhen came close to equalizing a minute after but dragged his shot too wide, and in the 19th minute, a fierce tussle in the Ghanaian box ended with Tunisian referee Selmi Sadok awarding a penalty kick to Nigeria, where William Troost Ekong stepped up to send goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott the wrong way.

In the 34th minute, Nigeria thought they had taken the lead when Victor Osimhen ran hard on a floated ball from Oghenekaro Etebo and got past Wollacott to slot into the net, but a VAR check by referee Sadok ruled out the strike. On the stroke of half time, a cut back by Dennis was safely dealt with by Wollacott.

The Eagles struggled to create many chances in the second half. A floater by Ademola Lookman in the 50th minute was caught by Wollacott. Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and Osimhen on two occasions, missed narrowly as the Eagles failed to get the goal they needed to turn the table.

Ghana qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup showpiece in Qatar on the away goal rule.  

Nigeria U-20 girls, the Falconets on Saturday in Benin City grabbed a ticket to the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after thrashing Senegal 4-1 to earn a 7-2 aggregate victory.

Flourish Sebastine, scored a brace, on the 8th and 19th minutes to halt any hope of a dramatic comeback for Senegal,at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

Midfielder Esther Onyenezide made it three on the 25th minute , after converting from the penalty spot.

The Young Lionesses of Teranga however scored from the spot, after one of their strikers was turned in the Nigerian box.

In the second half, just before the final whistle of Eswatini referee Letticia Antonella Viana, Joy Jerry made it four goals for the two-time FIFA World Cup runners-up.

The result sends the Falconets straight to the World Cup holding from 10th to 28th August, in Costa Rica.

The victory came barely 72 hours before the Super Eagles will trade tackles with the Black Stars of Ghana in Abuja, on Tuesday 6:00 pm, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

Super Eagles defensive midfielder Abdullah Shehu is the happiest man in the current Super Eagles squad as he welcomes his baby boy ahead of the 2nd Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Playoff clash against Ghana.

Shehu announced that he and his wife Naja’atu Muhammad Suleiman have welcomed a baby.

The 29-year-old took to his official Instagram account to celebrate the arrival of the new addition to the family.

Along with a photo of him and his wife was a message that said, “We are thrilled to announce our babysitter boy, mother and baby are in good health. We thank Allah!”

It is good news for the Super Eagles camp as several players congratulated Abdullahi on social media.

Abdullahi who plays for Cypriot First Division side Athletic Club Omonoia Nicosia got married to Kannywood actress Naja’atu Muhammad Suleiman back in 2021 and the couple now have their first child together.

Super Eagles of Nigeria played a crucial 0-0 away draw against Ghana in the first leg of Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff against the BlackStars of Ghana in Kumasi.

Indeed Super Eagles have a difficult task at hand, considering the away goals rule which is still in force in the FIFA World Cup Playoffs.

Ex Super Eagles players stated thier satisfaction and expectations from the Eagles on the return leg in Abuja.

Nigeria will host Ghana in the second leg fixture at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Former Nigeria captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha is confident the Super Eagles now have a better chance of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar with the goaless draw against Ghana on Friday.

According to Okocha credit should be given to the Super Eagles for their impressive display against Ghana.
We could not separate both teams because nobody wanted to lose the game.

“We must give credit to the players considering the fact that they have given themselves a good chance of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup,” Okocha said on Supersports”.

Former Super Eagles player, Daniel Amokachi gave his verdict on the penalty incident during the game.

The penalty call was reversed by the Moroccan referee, Redouane Jiyed after a handball by Baba in the 76th minute, Jiyed, however, was advised to check the VAR monitor on the side of the pitch and he changed his initial decision after spotting a foul by Kelechi Iheanacho on the Ghanaian, prior to him handling the ball in the box.

Amokachi believes that it would have been a stonewall penalty if Iheanacho had not pushed Baba in the build-up, insisting that the referee made the right call.

“When the referee was called back to look at the monitor, we knew it was going to be disallowed. That’s when I saw the trip,” Amokachi said on SuperSport along with Austin Okocha and John Paintsil of Ghana.

Ghana and Nigeria’s World Cup hopes remain in the balance as they rekindle their quest in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Qatar FIFA 2022 World Cup Africa Playoff between the Blackstars of Ghana and the Super Eagles of Nigeria takes centre stage tonight, at Baba Yara Stadium,Kumasi.

This can be best described as ‘The Clash of the Titans’

As much as the Eagles are bent on securing victory tonight against the Blackstars,we should not forget that in the last four meetings of both countries,Ghana has edged over Nigeria since 2006.

The Super Eagles will head into the game seeking to get one over their West African counterparts and strengthen their qualification chances.

Match Preview

Ghana endured an underwhelming campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations, where they suffered a shock group-stage exit after picking up just one point from three games in Group C.

Having lost 1-0 against Morocco in their opening game, the Black Stars played out a 1-1 draw with Gabon in their second outing before suffering a disappointing 3-2 defeat at the hands of debutants Comoros in the group finale.

Ghana is now set to quickly put that poor performance behind them as they turn their sights to the World Cup qualifying playoffs, where they have been drawn against West African rivals Nigeria after narrowly clinching first place in Group G of the qualifiers.

Having picked up 10 points from their opening five games, Otto Addo’s men needed all three points in their final group game against South Africa on November 14 to progress to the next phase of the qualifiers.

While Ghana will be looking to pick up where they dropped off in their bid for a place in Qatar, they have struggled in recent outings, losing three and claiming one draw from their most recent four games.

TEAM NEWS

The Super Eagles undoubtedly have the best attack on the continent, with Eguavoen able to add Leicester City winger Ademola Lookman and Watford’s star man Emmanuel Dennis to a side that already have tremendous firepower in Napoli star striker Victor Osimhen, 2019 Afcon goal-king Odion Ighalo, and Almeria’s Umar Sadiq.

In the Midfield, Wilfred Ndidi is out due to injury, first-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been replaced after testing positive for COVID-19, while Everton’s Alex Iwobi is suspended.

There is huge concern in the Eagles’ defence as key men William Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, and Ola Aina arrived camp in varying degrees of match fitness.

Ghana are not without their issues as well, with Andre Ayew’s suspension and Kamaldeen Sulemana’s injury two huge blows for their country.

Coach Adoo has called up 27 players, including Arsenal star Thomas Partey, Leicester City’s Daniel Amartey, and Bochum forward Christopher Antwi-Adjei.

There could be maiden appearances for AS Roma’s youngster Felix Afena-Gyan and former Belgium youth international defender Denis Odoi, with the duo getting their first invitations.

HEAD -TO- HEAD

Ghana have dominated the head-to-head statistics against Nigeria, winning 21 games, drawing 18, and losing only 10.

The Super Eagles enjoyed a brilliant 12-year unbeaten run over the Black Stars, though, between 1994 and 2006, losing none of nine games, including five wins. But Ghana have won three and drawn one of the last four matches between the two countries.

Both are evenly matched during FIFA World Cup qualifiers, though, registering two wins, four draws, and two losses each.

Nigeria having failed to win any of the last four meetings between the sides since 2006, the Super Eagles will head into the game seeking to get one over their West African counterparts and strengthen their qualification chances.

Match Preview

Ghana endured an underwhelming campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations, where they suffered a shock group-stage exit after picking up just one point from three games in Group C.

Having lost 1-0 against Morocco in their opening game, the Black Stars played out a 1-1 draw with Gabon in their second outing before suffering a disappointing 3-2 defeat at the hands of debutants Comoros in the group finale.

Ghana will now look to quickly put that poor run behind them as they turn their sights to the World Cup qualifying playoffs, where they have been drawn against West African rivals Nigeria after narrowly clinching first place in Group G of the qualifiers.

Having picked up 10 points from their opening five games, Otto Addo’s men needed all three points in their final group game against South Africa on November 14 to progress to the next phase of the qualifiers.

Former Swansea City man Andre Ayew was calm under pressure as he converted his 33rd-minute penalty to send Ghana top of the group, leapfrogging the Bafana Bafana on goal difference, and into the playoffs.

While Ghana will be looking to pick up where they dropped off in their bid for a place in Qatar, they have struggled to get going in recent outings, losing three and claiming one draw from their most recent four games.

Team news

The Super Eagles undoubtedly have the best attack on the continent, with Eguavoen able to add Leicester City winger Ademola Lookman and Watford’s star man Emmanuel Dennis to a side that already possesses tremendous firepower in Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, 2019 Afcon goal-king Odion Ighalo, and Almeria’s Umar Sadiq.

Midfield dynamo Wilfred Ndidi, however, misses out due to injury, while first-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been replaced after testing positive for COVID-19. Everton’s Alex Iwobi is suspended.

There are also concerns in the Eagles’ defence as key men William Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, and Ola Aina arrived camp in varying degrees of match fitness.

Ghana are not without their issues as well, with Andre Ayew’s suspension and Kamaldeen Sulemana’s injury two huge blows for their country.

Still, coach Adoo has called up 27 players, including Arsenal star Thomas Partey, Leicester City’s Daniel Amartey, and Bochum forward Christopher Antwi-Adjei.

There could be maiden appearances for AS Roma’s youngster Felix Afena-Gyan and former Belgium youth international defender Denis Odoi, with the duo earning their first invitations.

FINALLY THE TEAMS POSSIBLE STARTING LINE UPS

GHANA

Wollacott; Mensah, Amartey, Djiku, Yiadom; Partey, Wakaso; Paintsil, Kudus, Antwi-Adjei, Wriedt

NIGERIA

Uzoho; Sanusi, Troost-Ekong, Omeruo, Aina; Onyeka, Aribo; Lookman, Iheanacho, Dennis, Osimhen

Nigeria’s squad for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 playoff battle with Ghana on Tuesday have started their preparations in the Federal Capital, Abuja ahead of departure to Kumasi on Thursday.

Three time African champions Nigeria and four time African champions Ghana, will battle each other at the 40,000 capacity Baba Yara Stadium Kumasi on Friday evening, in the first leg of the Playoff fixtures, where both teams will battle for a single ticket to the 22nd FIFA World Cup finals.

At lunchtime on Tuesday, 18 of the 25 invited players have arrived at The Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments, while Five players are being expected on Tuesday evening, with only Leicester City of England playmaker Ademola Lookman and new invitee John Noble expected on Wednesday morning.

Friday’s encounter in Kumasi will be the 58th clash between the two countries’ senior teams, with 18 of those matches having ended in draws.

The first encounter took place on 20th October 1951, with Nigeria emerging victorious 5-0.

The last time both teams got involved in a FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture was in 2001, in a quest for a spot at the Korea/Japan 2002 finals.

The opening leg at the Accra Sports Stadium ended in a 0-0 draw before Nigeria won the return 3-0 inside the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt on 29th July 2001.

Their last meeting, in a friendly match that was staged in London on 11th October 2011, ended 0-0.

Captain Ahmed Musa and deputy captain William Ekong are among the 18 players who are already in camp for the two big games.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is currently sick and that has prompted Coach Augustine Eguavoen to extend invitation to Enyimba FC goalkeeper John Noble to join the squad.

Already in camp are: William Troost Ekong, Leon Balogun, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Olaoluwa Aina, Frank Onyeka, Odion Ighalo, Daniel Akpeyi, Ahmed Musa, Oghenekaro Etebo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Abdullahi Shehu, Francis Uzoho, Moses Simon, Emmanuel Dennis, Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, Calvin Bassey, Innocent Bonke, Kenneth Omeruo

Expected on Tuesday evening are: Zaidu Sanusi, Akinkunmi Amoo, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Sadiq Umar

While Ademola Lookman and John Noble will join the team on Wednesday

A look at NIGERIA VS GHANA in History

20 0ct 1951 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 5 Ghana 0

11 Oct 1953 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0

30 Oct 1954 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0

30 Oct 1955 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 7 Nigeria 0

27 Oct 1956 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0

27 Oct 1957 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 3 Nigeria 3

25 Oct 1958 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 2

10 Oct 1959 (Olympics Qualifier): Nigeria 3 Ghana 1

26 Oct 1959 (Olympics Qualifier): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1

22 Nov 1959 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 5 Nigeria 2

28 Aug 1960 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1

10 Sep 1960 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2

9 Oct 1960 (Nkrumah Cup): Nigeria 0 Ghana 3

29 Oct 1960 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 1 Ghana 1

8 Apr 1961 (AFCON Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

30 Apr 1961 (AFCON Qualifier): Ghana 2 Nigeria 2

17 Dec 1961 (Friendly): Ghana 5 Nigeria 1

10 Nov 1962 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

23 Feb 1963 (Nkrumah Cup); Ghana 5 Nigeria 0

30 Oct 1965 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 0 Ghana 4

7 Nov 1965 (Zik Cup): Ghana 3 Nigeria 0

23 Jan 1967 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2

12 Feb 1967 (Zik Cup): Ghana 2 Nigeria 0

22 Oct 1967 (Zik Cup): Ghana 2 Nigeria 1

23 Dec 1967 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2

10 May 1969 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 1

18 May 1969 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 1

8 Jan 1973 (All-Africa Games): Nigeria 4 Ghana 2

10 Feb 1973 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 3 – abandoned, match awarded 2-0 to Ghana

25 Feb 1973 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

11 Aug 1974 (Festival): Nigeria 1 Ghana 0

17 Aug 1974 (Festival): Nigeria 0 Ghana 1

24 Aug 1975 (Festival): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2

30 Aug 1975 (Festival): Ghana 3 Nigeria 0

4 Sep 1977 (Ecowas Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 1

8 Mar 1978 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 1

21 July 1978 (All-Africa Games): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

1 May 1983 (ECA Anniversary): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0

15 Oct 1983 (Olympics Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

30 Oct 1983 (Olympics Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2

5 Mar 1984 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2

27 July 1986 (Friendly): Ghana 2 Nigeria 0

2 Sep 1990 (AFCON Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0

13 Apr 1991 (AFCON Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

23 Jan 1992 (AFCON): Ghana 2 Nigeria 1

9 Mar 1994 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

28 Aug 1999 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

11 Mar 2001 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

29 July 2001 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0

3 Feb 2002 (AFCON): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1

15 Dec 2002 (Friendly): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1

30 May 2003 (LG Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 1

23 Jan 2006 (AFCON): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1

6 Feb 2007 (Friendly): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1

3 Feb 2008 (AFCON): Ghana 2 Nigeria 1

28 Jan 2010 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0

11 Oct 2011 (Friendly): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

The Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Playoff comes up on 25th March in Kumasi Ghana while the return leg will take place in Abuja on 29th March.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has expressed his excitement on long jumper Ese Brume, who made Nigeria proud by winning a silver medal at the just concluded World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

“We, as a Sports Ministry, are proud of her. She is an epitome of humility, hardwork and the Nigerian attitude that never gives up,” Dare concluded.

Brume leapt a distance of 6.85m to finish second in the long jump event behind Ivana Vuleta from Serbia who won gold with 7.06m.

Ruth Usoro also set her new personal season’s best with a spring of 6.69m to place eighth in the event.

Athletics is gradually rediscovering it’s feet as many sports loving Nigerians clamour for more.

Brume’s silver medal is Nigeria’s first podium finish at the indoor championships in 14 years.

All is set for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup play-offs between the Blackstars of Ghana and the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Super Eagles interim technical adviser, Augustine Eguavoen, said they are aware of the enormous task bestowed on them to ensure Super Eagles will be in Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“I will not accept any atom of complacency from my players, everyone is aware of the expectations,I promise,we will not disappoint football loving Nigerians”

Meanwhile,Black Stars head coach Otto Addo is looking forward to a difficult challenge from the Super Eagles, but expects Ghana to emerge victorious.

“We’re only a few days away from playing our crucial match against our rivals Nigeria, we all expect Ghana to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, but that won’t be easy as we need to do our best to make it to this tournament,”says Coach Addo.

The two West African giants will clash in a two-legged playoffs on 25th and 29th of March.

The first leg will take place on Friday at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi,Ghana.

While the reverse fixture is billed for the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja,on Tuesday 29th March.

The result of the first leg playoff in Kumasi will to a large extent determine the country between Nigeria and Ghana who will represent West Africa in Qatar.

Nigeria has been at the World Cup six times,while Ghana has been there just three times.