Ghana’s Black Galaxies head coach, Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, has provided insights into Nigeria’s dominant 3-1 victory in their African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier on Saturday night.
The Super Eagles B delivered an emphatic performance at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, to secure their place in the 2024 CHAN tournament, overcoming a goalless first-leg draw in Accra to decisively settle the tie.
Nigerian Brilliance Stuns Ghana
Heading into the second leg, Dramani had hoped to replicate Ghana’s 2022 World Cup qualification success over their rivals. However, Nigeria’s intensity and tactical execution left the Black Galaxies overwhelmed.
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Sodiq Ismaila broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, setting the stage for an explosive first half. Just three minutes later, Junior Harrison Nduka capitalized on a goalmouth scramble to double Nigeria’s lead. By the 25th minute, Saviour Johnson Isaac added a third goal, leaving Ghana shell-shocked and trailing 3-0 by halftime.
GOAL!!!
24’ Nigeria 3:0 Ghana
Black Galaxies are being torn apart in Nigeria🤦🏽
#CHANQUALIFIERS #CHANQ2024 pic.twitter.com/Q5J1RDUJzv
— Musbau (@_razakmusbau) December 28, 2024
Although Amankona Stephen pulled one back for Ghana in the 74th minute, it served as little more than a consolation as the Super Eagles B celebrated a commanding victory.
Dramani Admits Nigeria’s Superiority
Speaking after the match, a disappointed Dramani acknowledged Nigeria’s determination and physical edge as key factors in their triumph.
“Nigeria showed much more hunger and did a lot of running. We gave away some key moments in the game, which turned out to be disastrous for us,” Dramani remarked.
He highlighted the psychological impact of conceding quick goals: “After the first goal, the second can drain the strength and energy of a team, especially in the way it was scored—not to mention the third. At that point, any team could lose its steam.”
Challenges for Ghana’s Football
The defeat adds to Ghana’s recent football woes, with the national team also failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Dramani described these setbacks as part of a “transitional phase” for Ghanaian football.
“These are lessons learned in good faith,” he reflected. “We don’t like failure, but sometimes failure brings a moment to reflect and then bounce back in the right way.”
A Call for CAF Reforms
Dramani also criticized the current competition formats, urging the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to address the frequent early clashes between regional heavyweights like Nigeria and Ghana.
“Nigeria and Ghana meeting at this stage is an issue CAF must address. It’s important for the body to critically examine this and come up with a format that ensures the best for the continent,” he argued.
The Super Eagles B, absent from the last two CHAN tournaments, now return to the competition where they last reached the final in 2018. The 2024 edition, postponed to 2025, will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
