CHAN 2022: Ghana top Nigeria on penalties to qualify
Black Galaxies celebrate in Abuja | COURTESY: Modzero Media
A penalty shootout victory in Abuja takes Ghana back to the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) tournament for the first time since 2014 at the expense of rivals Nigeria on Saturday.
The Black Galaxies triumphed 5-4 after the Eagles won 2-0 over 90 minutes to claw back the first-leg deficit suffered at Cape Coast the previous weekend.
The first half ended goalless before the desperate Nigerians broke the deadlock through Zulkifilu Rabiu in the 76th minute.
The game looked to be ending with that solitary goal which would mean advantage Ghana on the aggregate score.
But substitute Chijoke Nnamdi Akuneto found the back of the net for the hosts in the 4th minute of additional time, forcing the Wafu Zone-B decider into shootouts after a 2-2 tie.
Nigeria missed their third kick while Ghana converted all to emerge 5-4 victors in the penalty shootouts.
Ghana will thus be among the 18 finalists for the 2022 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) tournament to be hosted by Algeria from January 13 to February 4, 2023.
The Black Galaxies finished runners-up in two of the first three editions of the CHAN but had failed to qualify for the last three editions of the competition.
The 18 teams, including hosts Algeria, will be drawn into five groups – three groups of four and two groups of three for CHAN 2022.
