Defending Champions, the Black Satellites of Ghana suffered a disappointing 2-0 to the Flying Eagles of Nigeria in the ongoing WAFU Zone B U-20 qualifiers at the Stade Général Seyni Kountche in Niamey on Sunday.
Goals from Ibrahim Muhammad and Ahmed Abudullahi ensured the Nigerians picked all three points.
Not the best of starts from Ghana as the Nigerians dominated play and grabbed a well-deserved lead in the 5th minute.
Ghana earlier came close through Emmanuel Agyei’s but his effort went high after Yahaya Mohammed ‘s effo was blocked.
Nigerians responded quickly with a long drive from Adams Olubi. Minutes after, Yahaya’s feeble shot went into the hands of Nigerian goalie Nathaniel Nwosu.
After five minutes of play, Ibrahim Muhammad went pass goalie Gregory Obeng to slot home the opener after he was set up by Adams Olubi. Forward Razak powered one from distance but missed narrowly for Ghana in the 15th minute.
Gregory Obeng was called to action as he tipped of Augustine Njoku’s teasing cross to deny Nigeria a second goal.
Despite a goal down, Satellites kept pressing and nearly pulled level in the 29th minute through skipper Zubairu Ibrahim, the King Faisal forward effort went into the arms of Nathaniel Nwosu after he was set up by Yahaya.
After 33 minutes of action, Zubairu came close with a thunderbolt set piece which was parried away by Nwosu to deny Ghana.
Minutes on, Gregory Obeng came off his line to deny Nigeria another goal with a beautiful save but centre man Clement Franklin from Ivory Coast ruled an offside.
With the game approaching the last ten minutes, Yahaya failed to direct his header after Augustine Agyapong sent in a cross from the right side of attack as Ghana went into the break trailing by a goal.
Minutes after recess, forward Razak Abdul strike from a freekick which missed narrowly. In the 53rd minute, a double block inside the penalty by Ghana.
Nigeria in the 66th minute nearly doubled their lead through Ibrahim Yahaya but Gregory Obeng grabbed firmly. Keen on grabbing the level, Ghana brought on Collins Boah and Alex Sarfo for Emmanuel Annor and Emmanuel Agyei to sharpen the attack.
The Flying Eagles doubled their lead in the 72th minute when a deflected shot from Ahmed Abudullahi gave goalie Obeng to chance to move. With four minute left to honour, Zubairu had a decisive chance to reduce the margin for Ghana but his strike posed no threat for Nwosu as Ghana picked their first defeat of the campaign.
They face Burkina Faso in their next game on Saturday, May 14th at the Stade Général Seyni Kountche.
Source; 7SportsGhana.com
