Goals by Cyriel Dessers and Ademola Lookman secured Nigeria’s Super Eagles a 2-1 victory over the Black Stars of Ghana in a friendly match played in the Moroccan city of Marrakech on Friday.
The win was also a marker for Finidi George’s credentials in his first match as caretaker coach of the Super Eagles.
The match was tagged the ‘Jollof derby’ due to the age-long banter over which country has the best jollof rice between the two West African neighbours.
Returning forward Cyriel Dessers sent Lawrence Ati-Zigi the wrong way from the penalty spot in the 38th minute, after Jerome Opoku handled a shot by Kelechi Iheanacho. The Leicester City of England man had earlier struck the woodwork as Nigeria pressed.
Opoku would pick up a red card in the 57th minute for dissent, leaving the Black Stars with 10 men. The Black Stars came close to restoring parity two minutes after Nigeria went in front, with Antoine Semenyo all by himself at the other end, but Stanley Nwabali proved his Africa Cup of Nations heroics in Cote d’Ivoire were no fluke.
Nigeria scored the second goal in the 84th minute when substitute Ademola Lookman calmly slotted past goalkeeper Ati-Zigi and an onrushing defender after a good team move that involved fellow substitute Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi.
In four minutes of added time, Bright Osayi-Samuel brought down forward Semenyo inside the 18-yard box, and captain Jordan Ayew made no mistake from the spot.
The Super Eagles will play a second friendly against Mali at the same venue (Grand Stade de Marrakech) on Tuesday night.
