Nigeria’s hope of making its 7th World Cup finals was dashed a couple of hours ago after the Super Eagles could only draw 1-1 with the Black Stars of Ghana at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.

The defeat means Ghana picked up the Qatar 2022 World Cup Finals ticket, at the expense of Nigeria, who played the second leg of the tie, before their home fans, in a packed 60,000 stadium.

Having drawn goalless with the Black Stars in Kumasi on March 25th, the Super Eagles needed an outright win in Abuja but soon fell behind to Thomas Partey’s opener for Ghana in the 11th minute.

Vice-Captain William Troost-Ekong stepped up 11 minutes later to convert a penalty, won by Victor Osimehn, to make it One-One.

Oshimen then had a goal chalked off by the referee in the 34th minute for offside, which was confirmed after a VAR check.

Ghana thus qualified for their fourth World Cup on the away goal rule, while Nigeria will have to rebuild all over under a new coach and a new NFF management team.

Up next for a frustrated Super Eagles is the qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, to be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire.

Since making its debut at the Mundial in 1994, this is the second time Nigeria has missed out on the global football showpiece; the first was in 2006, when Angola upset Nigeria to qualify for the finals in Germany.