Super Eagles of Nigeria played a crucial 0-0 away draw against Ghana in the first leg of Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff against the BlackStars of Ghana in Kumasi.
Indeed Super Eagles have a difficult task at hand, considering the away goals rule which is still in force in the FIFA World Cup Playoffs.
Ex Super Eagles players stated thier satisfaction and expectations from the Eagles on the return leg in Abuja.
Nigeria will host Ghana in the second leg fixture at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Tuesday.
Former Nigeria captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha is confident the Super Eagles now have a better chance of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar with the goaless draw against Ghana on Friday.
According to Okocha credit should be given to the Super Eagles for their impressive display against Ghana.
We could not separate both teams because nobody wanted to lose the game.
“We must give credit to the players considering the fact that they have given themselves a good chance of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup,” Okocha said on Supersports”.
Former Super Eagles player, Daniel Amokachi gave his verdict on the penalty incident during the game.
The penalty call was reversed by the Moroccan referee, Redouane Jiyed after a handball by Baba in the 76th minute, Jiyed, however, was advised to check the VAR monitor on the side of the pitch and he changed his initial decision after spotting a foul by Kelechi Iheanacho on the Ghanaian, prior to him handling the ball in the box.
Amokachi believes that it would have been a stonewall penalty if Iheanacho had not pushed Baba in the build-up, insisting that the referee made the right call.
“When the referee was called back to look at the monitor, we knew it was going to be disallowed. That’s when I saw the trip,” Amokachi said on SuperSport along with Austin Okocha and John Paintsil of Ghana.
Ghana and Nigeria’s World Cup hopes remain in the balance as they rekindle their quest in Abuja on Tuesday.