Participant Scores: Ghana 0-0 Nigeria – Aina, Uzoho shine; Iheanacho, Chukwueze soften within the Kumasi warmth

Regardless of both sides having affordable chances to take an important benefit into the second leg on Tuesday, neither was able to seize their moment, leaving this World Cup qualifying play-off perfectly balanced forward of the return in Abuja.

The performances on the evening are rated right here, on a scale of 1-10.

The Omonia goalkeeper made quite a few necessary saves to maintain Ghana at bay, and was commanding each in his handling and in his vocal path of the backline. Was a bit of reticent to return off his line and clear the hazard on a few occasions, which ever-so-slightly marked down his grade, however does not detract from a robust showing total.

A stud after which some. The Torino man was one of many few on the evening who appeared totally unfazed by the environment, and came out on prime with consummate ease against a seasoned campaigner like Jordan Ayew. Additionally made some searing runs from deep to progress the ball, and created Nigeria’s best chance of the first half with an extravagant move with the surface of his boot.

The Watford defender put up an excellent show, and worked effectively in tandem together with his centre-back associate. His reveals of strength didn’t always come off although, and he was turned with ease on a few events via the game. All in all, was where he needed to be positionally all through the proceedings.

This was the Oyibo Wall’s Best outing for a while, and Balogun greater than played his half with some beautifully timed sliding tackles to brush up hazard. Struggled with the trickery of Afena-Gyan every from time to time, however showed all his expertise and composure in his defensive work. Passing and choice making in possession have been a bit hit-and-miss, nevertheless.

The Porto man is a irritating one, because he exhibits flashes of skill and dynamism, however by no means fairly places all of it together in a satisfying package deal. Was largely stable towards a difficult opponent in Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, however could have finished so much more with the space he loved in sure situations. Good performance.

Bonke was fairly common, all issues thought of. Gave away a bunch of fouls, did little to assist the crew acquire any form of foothold in possession, and was lacking in motion for Ghana’s clearest sight of objective within the first half, when Issahaku was in a position to latch onto a second ball and line up a shot from the sting of the field.

No assist for the Rangers man, who initially discovered the physicality tough to handle. To his credit though, he rose to the problem reasonably than shrink from it, and by the second half, he was strutting his stuff. If only a few of his teammates had performed on his wavelength. Missed Nigeria’s best chance within the first half.

Anonymous, effete and lacking in want and invention. The Villarreal man’s dismal kind in worldwide colors clearly transcends the shores of Cameroon. Has almost actually played himself out of a beginning spot for the return leg.

Neither midfielder nor ahead, neither fish nor fowl. Matches of this depth and aggression merely don’t allow the time and area Iheanacho appears to wish to spin his net. He spent the game, which he someway completed, providing little of any worth of influence. Did nevertheless play the go for the largest probability of the match, so he was a minimum of higher than Chukwueze in that respect.

Nothing came off for the Nantes, nevertheless it was not for need of making an attempt. His decision-making was very one-dimensional when one-on-one with the full-back, and to worsen issues he incessantly obtained the ball caught beneath his toes. Whereas not an open objective, he did fail to convert the game’s best chance.

Osimhen is nothing if not a fighter. Nevertheless, right here he received no change in any respect out of Alexander Djiku and Daniel Amartey. The referee let loads of fouls on him go, and that solely exacerbated the sense of isolation that held on the Napoli marksman all through the game. Did not assist that his strike companion was having an existential disaster for a lot of the proceedings.