Nigeria secured a place in the Unity Cup final after a tense 2-1 win over Ghana on Tuesday evening at the Gtech Community Stadium in London. The Super Eagles scored twice in the first half and managed to withstand Ghana’s pressure late in the game to move one step closer to the trophy.
The match began with high intensity, and Nigeria quickly found their rhythm. In the 14th minute, striker Cyriel Dessers gave Nigeria the lead in style. He controlled a cross with his chest inside the penalty area and struck the ball with his right foot, beating Ghana’s goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim Asare with precision.
Nigeria didn’t stop there. Just five minutes after the opening goal, the Super Eagles increased their advantage, this time with some unexpected help from the Ghanaian defense. A free-kick from the midfield was played into the box and Ghana’s Razak Simpson accidentally headed the ball into his own net, making it 2-0 in favour of Nigeria.
Despite the setback, the Black Stars kept pushing forward. Their efforts were rewarded in the 70th minute when Brandon Thomas-Asante scored from close range. He connected well with a low cross from the left and finished past Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, cutting the deficit in half and giving Ghana a chance to fight back.
However, Nigeria remained composed for the rest of the match. The Super Eagles kept their defense tight and slowed the pace of the game to prevent Ghana from finding an equalizer.
The game ended 2-1, and with that, Nigeria booked their place in the Unity Cup final. They will now face Jamaica in the title match on May 31.
