2024 CHAN qualifier: Five observations from Super Eagles' goalless draw against Black Galaxies

The Super Eagles B team successfully played out a goalless draw against the Black Galaxies of Ghana at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday evening.

In the face of relentless pressure from the home side, Nigeria displayed remarkable team resilience, effectively maintaining the scoreline as they look ahead to the second leg in Uyo.

Allnigeriasoccer.com presents five observations from the game

Rabiu Ali benched As Nigeria shows great defensive display

Stand-in coach Daniel Ogunmodede made the decision to deploy a midfield three that excluded the seasoned and in-form Kano Pillars midfielder, Rabiu Ali.

Rabiu's omission was particularly notable given his standout performances in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Despite his considerable experience and impressive form, Ogunmodede chose to field Jide Fatokun, Saviour Isaac, and Zayyad Musa in the midfield.

The trio demonstrated exceptional work rate, covering significant ground and providing vital support to the defense.

As a result, Nigeria executed a stellar defensive performance against Ghana, making it challenging for their opponents to penetrate.

Low turnout at Accra Stadium

Despite a thrilling goalless draw between Nigeria and Ghana at the Accra Sports Stadium, attendance was notably sparse.

While there were pockets of fans in uniform passionately cheering for both nations, the overall turnout was disappointingly low.

The match featured an impressive display of skill and determination from both teams, yet this did not translate into an enthusiastic crowd filling the stands.

Too many long balls from Ghana

Nigeria showcased exceptional defense, thwarting most of Ghana's attempt to generate scoring opportunities.

In their efforts to break the defense, the Black Galaxies of Ghana resulted to long balls into the penalty area.

Ani Ozoemena calm in goal

Nigeria's goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena showcased a mature and calm performance at the Accra Sports Stadium.

With Ghana mounting pressure on Nigeria to score, Ani made some crucial saves to deny the host a few times the defense is breached.

Also, the Nigerian goalkeeper displayed remarkable performance with most of the aerial balls and cross into the box.

He showed great composure to deal with the crosses and ease the pressure on the team.

Nigeria adopts time-wasting strategy

The Super Eagles B Team exhibited remarkable resilience, successfully maintaining a goalless draw in the face of mounting pressure from the Ghanaian side, who were keen to break the deadlock.

In response to the mounting intensity of the match, the Super Eagles adopted a tactical strategy centered around time management, effectively slowing the game's tempo to regain control.

To implement this approach, several players would deliberately hit the ground following challenges, whether they were substantial or minor.

This tactic not only served to disrupt the flow of the game but also allowed the team to catch their breath and recalibrate their defensive strategies.

Adeyemi Adewale

Photo Credit: Ghana Football Association

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