Draw Against Nigeria, Ghana The First African Team To Qualify For The 2022 World Cup

JAKARTA - Ghana became the first African team to secure a place in the Qatar 2022 World Cup finals after a 1-1 draw against hosts Nigeria in Abuja Tuesday (Wednesday, western Indonesia time) in the Africa zone qualifying play-off match.

Ghana is entitled to a ticket to Qatar through the away goals rule after the first leg last Friday the two teams played out a goalless draw. Ghana will take part in their fourth World Cup having featured in three consecutive World Cups between 2006 and 2014.

Thomas Partey scored for Ghana in the 10th minute with a speculative shot from outside the box as the ball wriggled under Nigeria goalkeeper Francis Uzoho who should have made a comfortable save.

Nigeria equalized with a penalty when Denis Odoi rammed Ademola Lookman in the box and William Troost-Ekong's strike went deep into the top corner. But the hosts were unable to get the win they needed.

Nigeria has qualified in six of the previous seven World Cups since the World Cup in the United States in 1994, and their absence from this year's tournament will trigger an investigation from the country's football authorities.

In the match at the Moshood Abiola Abuja Stadium, Ghana defended more and rarely threatened the opponent's goal after scoring the early goal.

Nigeria had thought they had scored a second goal when Victor Osimhen found the net, but VAR showed he was offside.

A number of golden opportunities failed to lead to goals for Nigeria, including when Emmanuel Dennis' header went wide and Osimhen's overhead shot crossed the post.