Nigeria Men Avenge Women's Mauling

... in another 5-goal thriller

Nigeria men avenged the 5-0 defeat their women suffered at the hands of their Ghanaian rivals when they beat Ghana 3-2 in a firecely contested 5-goal thriller.

It was the Ghanaians who ceased the initiative after Nigeria had pushed off and should have got the opener in the spate of 5 minutes. As usual, poor concentration and marksmanship let the Nigerians off the hook. With time, the Nigerians warmed themselves into the game and domintated thereafter. It took them 15 minutes to put the ball behind the Ghanaian goaline from the stick of Okwudili Peter Menyei. Sunday Ogodogu David doubled the lead in the 21st to the surprise of the Ghanaians only for Ebenezer Frimpong to redeem 1 goal from a 23minute penalty stroke awarded the Ghanaians. The half ended 2-1 in favour of Nigeria.

The second half started on a very fast note with the Ghanains dictating the pace. They didn't have to wait for long for Isaac Ofori to draw level in the 39th minute from a penalty corner. The goal unsettled the Nigerians but the Ghanaians woefully wasted the numerous chances they created. As the game progressed, the Ghanaians appeared the more tired of the two teams committing errors in midfield. The Nigerians relied on their rich experience to take runs at the Ghanaian backline. In the 57th minute, Samson Abrakassa killed-off the Ghanaian challenge with a well-taken goal to give the Niogerians teh victory they worked tirelessly for.