Ayew insists Black Stars were better than Super Eagles in second half despite Opoku's contentious red card 

Crystal Palace star Jordan Ayew reckons that the Black Stars were better than Nigeria in the second half of their 2-1 loss to the Super Eagles on Friday evening despite playing with a man down for more than forty minutes. 

Jerome Opoku got his marching orders for an alleged elbow on Nigeria center back Chidozie Awaziem after a corner was swung into the box by Ayew. 

Referee Jayed Jalal's decision to send off Opoku was contested by manager Otto Addo and the İstanbul Başakşehir central defender.

Prior to Opoku's red card, Nigeria held a slender 1-0 lead thanks to Cyriel Dessers before super-sub Ademola Lookman fired into the roof of the net from close range to double the advantage at minute 84 off an assist by Alex Iwobi.

Jordan Ayew, who netted in second half stoppage time, has emphasized that the red card had no bearing on the result as the Black Stars dominated proceedings notwithstanding their numerical disadvantage.

"It didn't really affect us, it gave us even more energy, more strength to keep on doing what were doing because I had a feeling that we were the better team in the second half," Ayew told reporters in the mixed zone after the game. 

"But you know in football, sometimes things go your way, sometimes don't go your way and I think we put them under pressure, we went toe-to-toe. 

"We did a really good second half so we need to build on that and it's a positive thing for the future."

In three appearances against the Super Eagles, all of which he started, Jordan has yet to taste victory with two draws and a loss. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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