Photo caption: Super Eagles celebrate as Cyriel Dessers opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a clinical finish against Black Stars of Ghana in Unity Cup, London
The Super Eagles of Nigeria beat the Black Stars of Ghana 2-1 in the Unity Cup semifinal, at the Gtech Community Stadium in London on Wednesday night.
Cyriel Dessers opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a clinical finish, assisted by S. Ismail.
Just five minutes later, Nigeria’s advantage was extended when Ghana’s Razak Simpson accidentally turned the ball into his net, gifting the Super Eagles a crucial second goal.
Ghana struggled to respond, failing to record a single shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.
The pressure on the Black Stars intensified further as two of their players, Kamaradini Mamudu and Salis Abdul Samed, were booked in quick succession for reckless fouls in the 24th and 26th minutes.
However, Ghanaian substitute, Brandon Asante-Thomas pulled one back for th Black Stars in the 70th minute.
Nigeria will face Jamaica in the Unity Cup final on Saturday.
Jamaica beat Trinidad and Tobago 3-2 on Tuesday.
Ahead of the match, Ghana’s head coach, Otto Addo, had emphasized its significance, stating, “This game presents Ghana an opportunity to restore pride, to fuel the passion of the fans, and to remind the continent that the Black Stars are still a force to reckon with.”
The Unity Cup is a friendly football tournament aimed at fostering camaraderie among nations with historical and cultural ties, particularly from Africa and the diaspora.
Hosted in venues like London, it celebrates unity and diversity while providing a platform for talent and sportsmanship.
In this year’s tournament, Nigeria and Ghana are battling in the semifinals for a chance to face Jamaica, who secured their spot in the final with a decisive victory. The knockout-style competition emphasizes goodwill and cultural connection, drawing fans from across the globe.
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