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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria’s Super Eagles team B failed to qualify for the 2022 CHAN after losing 4-5 to Ghana in a penalty shootout.
The CHAN qualifying final round second-leg match played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja saw Nigeria scoring two goals to level 2-2 on goals aggregate.
Ghana won the first leg in Cape Coast 2-0 on Sunday, and opted for a contain-and-counter strategy in Abuja.
However, two well-taken second half goals by Muhammed Zulkifilu and Chijioke Akuneto drew the fixture level and meant the lottery of penalty kicks would decide the winners.
Substitute Maurice Chukwu saw his penalty kick (Nigera’s third) hit the crossbar in the shootout to hand Ghana the ticket to January’s 7th CHAN finals in Algeria.
Kobby-Mensah who spoke to journalists during a post-match conference expressed joy at his team’s victory, admitting however that it was a very difficult match against Nigeria.
“It’s a great feeling because for some years now we have not been able to qualify.
“Coming here and playing against Nigeria, even though we took a good lead from the first leg, which was not a commanding one, wasn’t easy. This is because we know Nigeria are a very good side.
“So, coming here we knew it was always going to be difficult and it was indeed a pulsating encounter. However, I think that we gave some easy goals away.
“But at the end of the day, we just wanted to qualify and we have done just that and we are all happy,” he said.
The coach recalled that the team’s head coach Annor Walker had predicted prior to the second leg encounter that it was going to be difficult for Nigeria to turn things around. "Ghana will always have an edge for Nigeria in matters related to football. Some how we seems to have the key."
