Tears, anger as Eagles lose World Cup ticket to Ghana

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen sings Nigeria’s national anthem during the World Cup 2022 qualifying football match between Nigeria and Ghana at the National Stadium in Abuja on March 29, 2022. (Photo by Pius Utomi EKPEI / AFP)

As it were at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Cameroon, where poor goalkeeping by Maduka Okoye stalled the Super Eagles in the round of 16, Nigeria paid the big prize once again, yesterday, in Abuja.

Poor goalkeeping by Francis Uzoho gave Ghana’s Black Stars the ticket to Qatar 2022, leaving the Super Eagles, and indeed, millions of Nigerians gnashing their teeth.

Three years ago at Egypt 2019 AFCON, many football-loving Nigerians put the blame for Super Eagles’ defeat by Algeria in the semifinals on the shoulders of goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.

The situation repeated itself at the Stade Rounde Adjio in Garoau, Cameroun, in January this year, where Okoye failed to save Youssef Msakni’s long-range strike two minutes into the second half to give the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia the ticket.

Nigeria’s Leon Balogun reacts after Ghana’s victory after the World Cup 2022 qualifying football match between Nigeria and Ghana at the National Stadium in Abuja on March 29, 2022. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)

The game was barely 11 minutes old, when Ghana captain, Thomas Partey, struck. His low shot outside the 18-yard box rolled slowly past the hands of goalkeeper Uzoho to the disappointment of over 80,000 fans.

Although the match ended 1-1 in Abuja yesterday, and 1-1 on aggregate, the away goal by Ghana secured the World Cup ticket for the Black Stars, their appearance at the global showpiece.

That goal counted double in the event that the match ended 1-1. The Eagles thus faltered at the last hurdle with