Super Eagles qualify for World Cup
Port Harcourt (Nigeria) 30 July 2001
The Super Eagles of Nigeria took the fifth slot for Africa’s representation at the 2002 World Cup when they humbled the Black Stars of Ghana with a 3-0 score in their final group B qualifier played at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Nigeria thus, joins, Africa champions, Cameroon, South Africa, Morocco and first timers Senegal as the five representatives of the African continent.
Nigeria topped the group with 16 points ahead of Liberia on 15, Ghana 11, Sudan nine and Sierra Leone four.
The defeat was the heaviest suffered in the hands of Nigeria in since the last 17 years.
The highly motivated Super Eagles took control of the game after the Ghanaians had kicked off and shot ahead under one minute.
Victor Agali stretched to head home the opener from a well-floated free kick by Austine Okocha after Hamza Mohammed had fouled lanky Nwankwo Kanu just
outside the Ghanaian box.
The early goal was greeted with thunderous cheers from the 18,000 fans that
packed the Stadium before noon to ensure a third time successive World Cup appearance by the Eagles.
But the jubilation was nearly cut short as the Ghanaians went straight into
Action, with Isaac Boakye coming close to redeeming the goal when his left
Footed shot sailed over the bar.
The Nigerians, who apart from their winning bonus of 7,500 dollars have been promised an additional 3,000,000 Naira should they win, kept their cool and took control of the midfield putting more pressure on the Ghanaian defence marshalled around Isaac Owusu.
They adopted a fast counter attacking strategy and during one of such moves, Tigani Babangida outpaced his marker, Isaac Owusu, dribbled pass goalkeeper James Nanor to slot in the second goal in the 18th minute.
Not even the second goal could let the Nigerian fans that included President Olusegun Obasanjo come out of their shelves to start a revel knowing well the unpredictability of their Ghanaian opponents, until the third goal also emerged.
And it was Babangidaga again in the 33rd minute when he made light work of Isaac Owusu, side-stepped goalkeeper Nanor and slotted in the ball for goal number three.
Disaster struck the Ghanaians in the 43rd minute when substitute goalkeeper Osei Boateng, who had come on for Nanor barely three minutes earlier was shown the red card for handling the ball outside the box in the process of preventing Agali from scoring.
Skipper and utility player, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour stepped in and made dramatic saves in the second half that kept the score the same throughout the second half. He received wild acclamation.
The two sides played a relaxed game in the second half, characterised by occasional dashes forward by the Ghanaians as the Nigerians appeared not interested in increasing the score line.
Line up for the Stars: James Nanor/Osei Boateng, Hamza Mohammed, Yaw Owusu, Princeston Owusu Ansah/Fatal Ahmed, Isaac Owusu, Mohammed Gargo, Godwin Ablordey, Isaac Boakye, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Charles Taylor/Aminu Musa.
GRi…/
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