By

Eniola Olatunji 

Nigeria on Saturday at the GodsWill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo Nigeria spanked the Black Satellites of Ghana 3-1 in the second leg of the 8th African Nations Cup popularly known as CHAN Championship meant for local players in African Nations. 

Imail Sadiq opened scoring for Nigeria in the 18th minute from a defensive error; Captain Nduka Junior was handy as a loose ball from Nigeria’s corner kick came his path to stylishly score in the 21st minute and Nigeria went to the Dressing room with the 3rd goal from Savior Isaac in the 24th also from a sloppy defending from the Ghanaians.

Stephen Amankona scored for Ghana in the 73rd minute while the Home Eagles were off guard.

Nigerian football fans who enjoyed a live streaming of the first half could not watch the second half as Patmos Media Line gathered that the Nigerian Football Federation NFF stopped the live coverage for copyright reasons and no television station in Nigeria including DStv aired the match live.

The first leg at the Baba Yara stadium in Ghana ended goalless.

The two coaches had on Friday at the Press Conference in Uyo promised their countries victory. Ghanaian Coach, Mas Dramani said they will play attacking football (which is obvious having played a draw in the 1st leg) as “we created far more chances and were unlucky not to score”.

Nigeria’s coach, Daniel Ogunmodede said Nigeria is resetting history as they are focusing on victory even training for penalties. 

Nigeria’s flag will fly at the finals next February.

Ghana has been ‘small pepper’ to Nigerian football as the Ghanaian local players stopped Nigeria from reaching the CHAN finals twice in 2001 and 2023 which took place in Ivory Coast and Algeria respectively. They also stopped the Super Eagles in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers playing 1-1 in Abuja and Nigeria had to bow on away goals rule.

In their last five meetings, Nigeria played 1-1 in Abuja in a world cup qualifier on 29th March 2022; on 28th August 2022 Ghana won the 1st leg of CHAN encounter 2-0 in Ghana and on 3rd September 2022 Nigeria also won the 2nd leg 2-0 but Ghana scaled through 5-4 on penalties. In a friendly encounter of 22nd March 2024 Nigeria won 2-1 and in the last encounter of 22nd December 2024 it ended goalless.

Ghana in 2009 at Ivory Coast lost the CHAN final to Democratic Republic of Congo 0-2 and at South Africa 2014 again lost in the finals to Libya 4-3 on penalties after a goalless full time.

Nigeria made three appearances bagging the Bronze after beating Zimbabwe by a lone goal in South Africa and at Morocco 2018, Nigeria was whipped 4-0 by hosts Morocco in the final.

The 8th CHAN tournament will be hosted by three countries namely Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya from 1st to 28th February 2025.