Nigeria edges Ghana to win entertaining Unity Cup opener

Photo: Ghana Football Association/X

After a thrilling Caribbean rivalry on Tuesday to kick off the Unity Cup exhibition tournament, West African rivals Ghana and Nigeria followed suit on Wednesday as Nigeria's Super Eagles came out on top in an action-packed 2-1 victory at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, England.

Sporting a more experienced lineup with a couple of players based in the Nigeria Premier Football League, the Super Eagles got off to a hot start against a more inexperienced Ghanaian selection.

Remo Stars right back Sodiq Ismaila made a strong impression when he burst down the flank in the 14th minute and provided an excellent cross to find Dessers. As Simpson slipped and fell trying to adjust to the cross, Dessers had plenty of time to control and finish past a helpless Benjamin Asare in the Black Stars goal.

Soon after, Simpson's difficult day got worse when a Samuel Chukwueze free kick service from the right wing was headed towards the Black Stars goal. Simpson attempted to make a play but deflected the ball beyond Asare's reach for an agonizing own goal.

But after halftime, Ghana were noticeably more comfortable. 20-year-old debutant winger Christopher Bonsu Baah provided a threat to the Nigerian defense along with contributions from halftime substitutes which included another debutant, Right to Dream Academy graduate Caleb Yirenkyi, and Coventry City attacker Brandon Thomas-Asante.

It was Thomas-Asante who brought the Black Stars back into the match in the 70th minute. A long ball from the defense sparked an attack down the left wing and Ebenezer Annan's cross was perfect to find the run of Thomas-Asante who made no mistake volleying past Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

Ghana continued to push for an equalizer but Nigeria were able to just hold on for the narrow victory. Nigeria will face Jamaica in the final on Saturday at the same venue after Ghana clash with Trinidad & Tobago in the third place match.