Preview: Ghana vs. Nigeria - H2H, team news, lineups

By: Blackcoin

The race for a place in Qatar kicks on as two African powerhouses in Ghana and Nigeria go head to head in the first of their two-legged playoff tie at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Friday, BSNsports.com.ng reports .

Having failed to win any of the last four meetings between the sides since 2006, the Super Eagles will head into the game seeking to get one over their West African counterparts and strengthen their qualification chances.

Match Preview:

Ghana endured an underwhelming campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations, where they suffered a shock group-stage exit after picking up just one point from three games in Group C.

Having lost 1-0 against Morocco in their opening game, the Black Stars played out a 1-1 draw with Gabon in their second outing before suffering a disappointing 3-2 defeat at the hands of debutants Comoros in the group finale.

Ghana will now look to quickly put that poor run behind them as they turn their sights to the World Cup qualifying playoffs, where they have been drawn against West African rivals Nigeria after narrowly clinching first place in Group G of the qualifiers.

Having picked up 10 points from their opening five games, Otto Addo's men needed all three points in their final group game against South Africa on November 14 to progress to the next phase of the qualifiers.

Former Swansea City man Andre Ayew was calm under pressure as he converted his 33rd-minute penalty to send Ghana top of the group, leapfrogging the Bafana Bafana on goal difference, and into the playoffs.

While Ghana will be looking to pick up where they dropped off in their bid for a place in Qatar, they have struggled to get going in recent outings, losing three and claiming one draw from their most recent four games.

Team news:

The Super Eagles undoubtedly have the best attack on the continent, with Eguavoen able to add Leicester City winger Ademola Lookman and Watford’s star man Emmanuel Dennis to a side that already possesses tremendous firepower in Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, 2019 Afcon goal-king Odion Ighalo, and Almeria’s Umar Sadiq.

Midfield dynamo Wilfred Ndidi, however, misses out due to injury, while first-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been replaced after testing positive for COVID-19. Everton’s Alex Iwobi is suspended.

There are also concerns in the Eagles’ defence as key men William Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, and Ola Aina arrived camp in varying degrees of match fitness.

Ghana are not without their issues as well, with Andre Ayew’s suspension and Kamaldeen Sulemana’s injury two huge blows for their country.

Still, coach Adoo has called up 27 players, including Arsenal star Thomas Partey, Leicester City’s Daniel Amartey, and Bochum forward Christopher Antwi-Adjei.

There could be maiden appearances for AS Roma’s youngster Felix Afena-Gyan and former Belgium youth international defender Denis Odoi, with the duo earning their first invitations.

Head-to-head:

Ghana have dominated the head-to-head stats against Nigeria, winning 21 games, drawing 18, and losing only 10.

The Super Eagles enjoyed a brilliant 12-year unbeaten run over the Black Stars, though, between 1994 and 2006, losing none of nine games, including five wins. But Ghana have won three and drawn one of the last four matches contested by the duo.

Both are evenly matched during FIFA World Cup qualifiers, though, registering two wins, four draws, and two losses each.

Ghana possible starting lineup:

Wollacott; Mensah, Amartey, Djiku, Yiadom; Partey, Wakaso; Paintsil, Kudus, Antwi-Adjei; Wriedt

Nigeria possible starting lineup:

Uzoho; Sanusi, Troost-Ekong, Omeruo, Aina; Onyeka, Aribo; Lookman, Iheanacho, Dennis; Osimhen