Ghana vs Nigeria: Ighalo benched as Osimhen leads Super Eagles attack

Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, will lead the Super Eagles attack against Ghana in their 2023 World Cup qualifier on Friday, The PUNCH has learnt.

This is as in-form Al-Hilal FC striker, Odion Ighalo, is expected to start from the bench in the match.

Other players who made the starting list for the game are Francis Uzoho, Ola Aina, Zaidu Sanusi, Innocent Bonke, Leon Balogun, Williams Troost Ekong, Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Osimhen, Joseph Aribo, and Moses Simon.

The PUNCH had reported that fireworks are expected on Friday (today) as Ghana host their arch-rivals Nigeria in one of the most anticipated matches of the first leg of the 2022 World Cup playoffs in Kumasi.

This is as data obtained by The PUNCH via CAF website showed that Ghana have the head-to-head advantage having won 25 of their 56 previous clashes with 19 ending in draws.

The Super Eagles won 12 games of their previous encounters against the Black Stars. The first encounter was on October 20, 1951, which Nigeria won 5-0.

The last time both teams were involved in a FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture was in 2001, with both seeking a spot at the Korea/Japan 2002 finals. The opening leg at the Accra Sports Stadium was stalemated 0-0, before Nigeria won the return 3-0 inside the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt on July 29, 2001.

Their last meeting, in a friendly match that was staged in London on October 11, 2011, ended 0-0.

Nigeria vs Ghana at Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi starts at 7.30 pm today, with the reverse leg set for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, March 29, from 6pm.

The winner over two legs will earn one of Africa’s five tickets to the 22nd FIFA World Cup finals, scheduled for November 14 to December 18 this year in Qatar.

Source: PUNCH

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