Ghana’s Black Meteors limped out of the Coronation Park yesterday with a barren scoreline against their Nigerian counterparts in the first leg of the All Africa Games final eliminator.
The Ghanaians have goalkeeper Eric Nii Baah to thank for two brilliant saves in the dying minutes of the game as the Meteors came under incessant pressure.
A stormy counter attack from the Nigerians in the 84th minute saw Nii Baah coming up with excellence to prevent Victoria Setubal’s striker, Kelvin Amunike, who had picked a great opportunity at goal.
Watched by a respectable crowd, the match failed to live up to its billing and battle as evident of the rivalry between the two nations.
But to the Meteors, a huge task awaits them in the second leg in Nigeria in a fortnight.
Playing with no vision, they were lost in the game for a greater period and the Nigerians could count themselves unlucky for failing to take advantage as they wasted the chances that fell for them.
The Nigerians also had themselves to blame as they adopted the delay tactics, and on one such occasion Emmanuel Ekpo was booked by Guinean Referee Banoura Abubakar for time wasting.
On the flip side, Ghana’s coach, Jones Attuquayefio, seemed lost in the match and could hardly employ any tactics to overpower the Nigerians, who showed a depth of strength at the back.
Referee Abubakar, who came out with some doubtful decisions against the Meteors, received a cold reception from the home fans as he walked off the pitch to his dressing room.
While the Ghanaians failed to click, coach Attuquayefio looked on until the 54th minute when he brought on striker Sadat Bukari for the unimpressive Tua Khemix.
His presence changed the game for the Ghanaians but that failed to record any goal for the Ghanaians.
The action remained balanced in the first 10 minutes during which Ghana’s goalkeeper, Eric Nii Baah, threw himself in the path of the ball to grab a close shot from Ighalo Odion.
With the Nigerians operating effectively from the flanks where Emmanuel Ekpo and Amunike were always adventurous, the Meteors came under some pressure but thanks to superb defensive organisation from Bawa Mumuni, Isaac Vorsah, Alfred Arthur and Kennedy Korley, they weathered the storm.
At half time there were doubts that the Meteors could strike gold but hopes rose with the introduction of Sadat Bukari and James Boadu into the game.
Sadat, the Heart of Lions Striker, made some good attempts at goal only to see his efforts either go wide or saved by keeper Ambrose Vanzekin.
