They chanted Ghana must go! to where? to Qatar

Deputy director-general of the National Sports Authority, Bawa Majeed was seen running from the Northern end of the Moshood Abiola Stadium. In front of him was Kwame Baah Nuakoh, Chairman, Ghana FA Club Licensing.

1000s of cars were honking, with on boarders and pedestrians screaming on top of their voices, ped ‘Ghana must go!’ Three gentlemen at the VVIP end of the stadium had blue and white bags with the inscription in ink, GHANA MUST GO in block letters.

Ghana must go to where is the obvious question. Qatar or back to Accra? Before kick-off this never to be forgotten day at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, over 60,000 fans were expectant. Over 200 million at home; from Lagos to Benin, Ware to Abuja, Port Harcourt to Kaduna, Kano to Sokoto, this was a night made for the Eagles.

Those in the stadium had their voices at octane level. The atmosphere was defeaning, and infectious. It could be touched, too. 

This crowd was brought to scare the Black Stars and suffocate them to death. This was crowd, where the government decided to give them half a day to work, was here to send down shivers in the spines of the Otto Addo’s men.

Led by a stadium announcer, they chanted ‘Super Eagles!’ No. It was not done like that. It was a rehearsed chorus. He would take the initial nickname of this country with over 200 million people, ‘Super!’ and the crowd would respond, Eagles…’ He would mention the first name of a player, and they will complete it. The noise reverberated every corner of this edifice revered.

Every corner of this 60,000 seater cathedral was full of a partisan crowd. A crowd here to witness a ticket to Qatar for the Super Eagles.

This crowd had the names of these Eagles on their lips.

Victor Osimhen had the loudest cheer. High expectations on the shoulder of a man who scores for fun in the Serie A with Napoli. 

But, tonight, it was a different night, a night meant for the Stars to illuminate Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Cape Coast, Takoradi, and many other cities in this country.

When the players walked onto the pitch to take a walk, the cheers reached its crescendo. Every warm-up move was accompanied by a cheer. 

This was a contrast for Ghana. Black Stars were orphans in the land of the neighbours who fight a jollof contest.

They were booed and jeered. The 1,800 seats made available for Ghana fans were dwarfed in this ocean of Eagle lovers.

Not even Thomas Partey who received love at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Sherata Hotel, where the team lodged could get love from these fans.

It was partisan, it was toxic, and rightly so. These Eagles had their share in Kumasi in the first leg.

Otto kept faith in the same team that earned a zero-all stalemate in the first leg, while his opponent Augustine Eguavon made changes to his arsenals for the night.

Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho dropped to the bench alongside the injured Samuel Chukwueze and Innocent Bonke.

This contest, which Ghana led began with boos, for the Black Stars and cheers in equal measure for the Eagles.

Everything Ghanaian was drowned, but Partey will shut them up, less than 10 minutes into this night in Abuja where the Eagle could not fly above the Stars.

It was his trademark strike which found its way underneath Francis Uzoho. Nigeria Sports Minister, Sunday Dare looked visibly distressed, the Nigeria Football Federation bosses, looked like those who lost a business contract.

It was the beginning of what would be a long night, but it wasn’t. Pressure was piled on Ghana, but Jojo Wallacott was up to the task, pulling two stupendous saves.

When Ghanaians thought they had seen the last of the pressure from Eguavon’s men, the reference was directed to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) monitor, and he returned to the pitch, pointing to the spot. Penalty Nigeria. 

The spectators found their voices. Skipper William Troost-Ekong stepped up and hit the ball beyond the reach of Wollacott. Honours even.

It was a goal with many questions. First, it was a melee where Eagles forward Osimhen fell in the middle of a sea of opponents, with his hands touching the ball, but the referee deemed it a penalty.

If that was a moment began feeling uneasy about the referee’s there would another one involving same Osimhen. 

The Napoli man appears to be yards offside, the assistant referee allowed play to continue when the ball was lobbed behind the backline of Ghana.

He outpaced Amartey, but Wollacott was on hand to cover. Though the ball hit the hand of Osimhen, he was allowed to score with his head into an empty net. 

The stadium erupted. Ecstasy unconfined. Players and fans celebrated in unison, but the VAR would come to Ghana’s aid, cancelling out the goal for the Stars to heave a sigh of relief.

Fatawu Issahak and Afena Gyan all came close, but they were not close enough, while Osimhen whose touches were greeted a cheer of his name, flashed the front of Ghana post.

Advantage Ghana.

Fatawu Issahaku, Jordan Ayew and Baba Iddrisu dropped to the bench for the final hurdle for Kofi Kyereh, Christopher Antwi-Adjei and Andy Yiadom.

Nigeria responded, Moses Simon…were introduced for

Ghana piled the early pressure, forcing the Eagles into mistakes. Uzoho made a silly mistake, Afena Gyan threatened, but it remained just a threat. The fans turned against their team momentarily, demanding an improvement and they did making dangerous incursions at the other end to the admiration of the supporters.

Leon Balogun came close with a header, Osimhen skied his bicycle kick before an empty net. Thomas Party would get angry at his mates, shouting instructions when it appeared Nigeria had Ghana to the ropes.

Neither could find a breakthrough, and Ghana heads to Qatar.

History made for Otto Addo, history made for Thomas Partey’s generation who heads to Qatar, achieving the feet on the soil of a sworn rival.

Spectators sang Ghana must go. To where, to Qatar. And Ghana goes to Qatar. 

Fans pelted the players with water bottles, others walked out with 10 minutes to play, while the truants broke through the gates, attempting to assault the players. 

When they could vent their spleen on the players, they turned on the goalposts, substitutes bench, and pulled. Smoke filled the pitch stadium.

It is easy to appreciate their disappointment. They didn’t lose a football match, they lost a war on every front, which is unacceptable.

But, to leave it mildly for Nigeria,  you wanted to have a party on Tuesday night with a ticket to Qatar, but where would you have had the light to have that party?

Source: Ghana News