Accra Hearts of Oak’s talisman, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh was on the scoresheet on Sunday at the Cape Coast Stadium as the Black Galaxies humbled their Nigerian counterpart in the final qualifying round of the 2023 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The in-form attacker converted a second-half spot-kick to help his side record a 2-0 win ahead of the second-leg schedule for next week in Abuja, Nigeria.
Afriyie Barnieh who has been the team’s leading goal scorer in the ongoing CHAN qualifiers opened the scoring for Black Galaxies in the 62nd minute with club teammate Suraj Seidu finishing off with the all-important winning goal in the 88th minute following a rebound.
The goal becomes the striker’s third goal of the qualifier having previously scored twice against Benin in both legs.
The Super Eagles, despite having a lion’s share of the possession in the first half and an impressive run in the second half, failed to convert the goal-scoring opportunities they created in front of goal.
The result gives Ghana fair advantage to inch toward another landmark of denying Nigeria another tournament ticket the same year after the Black Stars qualified for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup ahead of the Super Green Eagles in March.
Meanwhile, Ghana will be hoping to get a favorable result in Abuja going into the second leg to qualify for the main tournament to be held in Algeria 2023 for the time since 2014.
However, the Nigerians will need to put up an outstanding performance in quest for nothing but an emphatic win in the return leg to overturn the deficit and qualify ahead of Ghana.
The second leg of the tie is scheduled for next week Saturday at the famous Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
