By Akinwale Kasali
Super Eagles fans and supporters that thronged the 60,000 capacity filled MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, were silenced by the determined and focused Black Stars of Ghana team. Ghana Kicked Nigeria out by recording a 1-1 draw against their host. By doing that, Ghana’s Black Stars booked a place to the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup via away goal rule.
Having played a goalless draw at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana, four days ago, the Thomas Partey captained Ghana stuck to their gun and game plan. They got the much needed away goal as early as the 12th minute into the encounter courtesy of the Arsenal Football Club of England midfielder, Partey, following a howler from the Super Eagles goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho.
A lackluster Super Eagles Team rallied back into the game as Leicester City Football Club of England winger, Ademola Lookman won a penalty that was converted by William Troost Ekong in the 22nd minutes of the encounter.
The Super Eagles struggled throughout the entire match. They lacked coordination, coherence, accuracy, depth and urgency. The  Ghanaians dictated the pace of the game
Coach Augustine Eguavoen made some changes from the first leg, by starting Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman, Frank Onyeka and Emmanuel Dennis, but this never metamorphosed into positive result for the team.
The draw means that Nigeria’s flag won’t be hoisted at the World Soccer showpiece, as the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the World Cup for the second time since making its debut at the 1994 FIFA World Cup at the United States of America.
Nigeria has always qualified for the World Cup since making its debut but failed to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and now the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the first of its kind to be hosted in the Middle East.
