For the second time in a row, Nigeria’s Super Eagles B failed to qualify for the 2022 African Nations Championship to be staged in Algeria, which will however be stage in January next year in four cities.
As they did in the qualifiers for the inaugural edition of the competition for home-based players in 2009 which they won 3-2 aggregate, the Ghanaians fought had to kick Nigeria out via penalties.
Ghana won the first leg in Cape Coast 2-0 a week ago. Although the visitors lost 0-2 in regulation time at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Saturday.
With the tie deadlocked, Ghana prevailed in the ensuing shootout 3-2 to join earlier finalists for Algeria 2022, which include the host nation, Morocco, Libya, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali and Niger Republic.
Others are: Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Madagascar.
For the last edition of the competition hosted by Cameroon. Togo eliminated Nigeria 4-3 aggregate in the second round of the qualifiers.
Ghana’s senior team, the Black Stars stopped Nigeria from featuring in the next FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Qatar in November.
After a barren first half in Abuja on Saturday, Zulkifilu Mohammed pulled a goal back for Nigeria in the 76th minute.
The home-based Nigerian team levelled up in the fourth minute of the added time when the NPFL top scorer, Chijoke Akuneto put side on level terms and dragged the game into penalty shoot-out.
