The Super Eagles Lands Safely In Abuja For The Preparations Of A Must Win Return-Leg Game Against Ghana On Tuesday (Video).

#2022WorldCupQualifiers:

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have arrived safely in Abuja following a 0-0 draw away in the first-leg of a very crucial double-header games against the Black Stars of Ghana.

The highly anticipated JollOf derby game which went down at the Baba Yara Sports stadium in Kumasi, Ashanti on Friday night, saw Ghana started the match the better of the two sides, accompanied with raucous sounds from the home supporters, and nearly took the lead when teenager Abdul Fatawu Issahaku pulled a great save from Nigeria goalkeeper Francis Uzoho. 

Nigeria grew slowly into the game, as Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo and Nantes wide man Moses Simon both had chances to put Nigeria in front, but could not convert.

Shortly after the break, Moses had the best chance of the game to put the Super Eagles ahead, but saw his shot from ten-yards out saved by Jojo Wollacott, to keep Otto Addo's men in the game.

Nigeria further gave Ghana a scare just over ten minutes to go when the referee whistled for penalty in the second half, as Baba Mohammed was penalised for a handball in the box.

However, after a VAR review, the referee returned from consulting the monitor to reverse his original decision, it was deemed that the Ghana man had been fouled before he handled the ball.

The game finally ended in a goalless result, probably a fair result for both teams, which means that the tie is far from over, as both teams hopes of making it to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar still remains in the balance. 

There's to more play for heading into the second-leg in Nigeria on Tuesday evening, at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, and any team who wins the game, would grab one of the five tickets to represent Africa at the biggest sporting tournament in the world later this year.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Head-Coach Eguavoen revealed that the Ghanaian team have quality and dominated the opening stage, but the Super Eagles had chances to win and could not convert their chances;

"Ghana team is not a team you can brush aside with one hand because it is a very good team.... He said.

"I've followed Ghana football nearly all my career, the performance they put up was expected.

"But to our boys, I will says congratulations because they were able to soak up the pressure and took control of the game in the second half."

"Ghana they have been on top of their game but they did not have any clear-cut chance, but we had two clear-cut chances it could have been a win but a draw is very ok."

"We had two clear chances to just finish Ghana, but I think getting a draw is good enough even though we wanted to win here."

Since their first game in the 1950's, Ghana and Nigeria have both met 57 times across all competitions (including Friday night draw). The Black Stars has won 25 while the Super Eagles wins 12 times, 20 games has ended in draw.

Playing Ghana away from home never really favoured Nigeria who has won just once, and lost 16 times, with seven draws out of 24 games Ghana has hosted.

When both sides met in a World Cup qualifier back in 2002, the Super Eagles played out a goalless draw in Ghana and then cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Black Stars at home.

The three-time African Champions, led by Augustine Eguavoen did not take long to depart their Golden Tulip apartment in Kumasi after the disappointing result.

They landed in Nigeria, (the country's capital Abuja) in the early hours of Saturday morning, via a chattered Air Peace aircraft.

In a video posted on the official Super Eagles Twitter handle after the game, the Nigerian contingent, led by coach Augustine Eguavoen, departed the Kumasi airport to Abuja to prepare for the reverse fixture on Tuesday, 29th March".

Along with the video was a message that reads, "We have landed Abuja…time to seal the 2022 World Cup ticket on Tuesday. #SoarSuperEagles."

Their arrival in Nigeria, was unlike when they had to hopped off the plane after landing in Kumasi on Thursday afternoon, due to a short ramp provided by their authorities.

We have landed Abuja…time to seal the 2022 World Cup ticket on Tuesday. #SoarSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/mSBZF2TCfm

— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) March 26, 2022

The team will now return to their camp at the Well Carlton Hotel and Apartments and continue preparation for the must-win  encounter set to be played at the newly renovated Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

Nigeria have qualified for the past three editions of the World Cup and are tipped to make it to the fourth on a bounce if they defeat Ghana in the second-leg on Tuesday.

They could become only the second African team, after Cameroon, to make four consecutive appearances at the Mundial.

Ghana have made it to the World Cup three times on a trot 2006, 2010 and 2014 but missed out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia.