Ghana 0-0 Nigeria summary: score, goals, highlights, 2022 World Cup play-off

All to play for in Abuja

A tense battle in Kumasi ended goalless and now both Ghana and Nigeria prepare for the all decisive second leg in Abuja next Tuesday. Cheers for your time tonight and join us next next week as we learn which of the West African giants will in the April 1st World Cup draw.

A goal for Ghana in Abuja would put pressure on Nigeria with the away goal rule still being used in this quaklification process.

Away goal rule in WC qualifiers

If both teams score the same number of goals over the two matches, the goals scored away shall be counted as double. If both teams have scored the same number of away goals, that's when extra time (two periods of 15 minutes) and, if necessary, a penalty-kick shootout comes into play.

All to play for next Tuesday

Few goals today in the African 2022 World Cup play-off games with Algeria and Tunisia in commanding positions following their respective 0-1 wins over Cameroon and Mali. All other three games are finely poised with Tuesday's action set to be a roller coaster of emotion across the continent.

Nigeria favourite to advance

An interesting graphic from We Global Football (Twitter) as their graphic reveal that the Super Eagles have a 65% chance of progressing to take their place in next Friday's World Cup draw after the 0-0 in Kumasi tonight.

Egypt record a narrow 1-0 win over Senegal in tonight's other African play-off game

0-0 in Kumasi

Despite having more possession and shots on target, there was no way past the green Nigerian wall and this tie will now be decided next Tuesday in Abuja.

Advantage Nigeria one would feel as the Super Eagles record a 0-0 draw in Kumasi.

Nigeria win a goal kick and are in no hurry to take .... and indeed the whistle sounds....

Onyeka does well for Nigeria as he tricks two Ghana defenders but his delivery was averted by the Black Stars defence as we head into the final minute of the added 4'.

Ayew is subbed and the home fans are not happy with that decision....Kwasi Okyere Wriedt takes his place

Still Egypt 1-0 Senegal

4 minutes of added time have been confirmed

Final minute of normal time in Kumasi and is there a twist in this first leg? One fees that Nigeria will be the happier side with a 0-0 scoreline heading back to Abuja on Tuesday.

Osimhen gets on the ball and looks for a man in green but Ghana break and a poor decision from Bukaro sees the move break down as he pulls the ball back bit no-one in a white shirt was there.

Ghana playing with more confidence now but it looks like a goal for either side this evening is somewhat elusive !

More changes as St Pauli's Daniel-Kofi Kyereh comes on for Afena-Gyan

Egypt still 1-0 ahead of Senegal with just over 10 minutes remaining in that game.

Final ten of the game in Kumasi and the past 15-20 minutes have been the best of the evening with both sides having lifted the shackles and nerves so present in the first half.

Abdul Fatawu Issahaku makes way for Bukari

Etebo carded for his protests

Hint of a push on Baba ? Indeed and he decision is overturned and Nigeria protest.

Handball by Baba after a major error at the back from the Mallorca man...penalty for Nigeria .... He will take a look at the VAR screen.

Balogun has been a rock for Nigeria tonight with Abdul Fatawu Issahaku catching the eye for the Black Stars.

Simon off for Lookman and Bassey on for Sanusi

Ghana go close as the Nigeria keeper is forced to tip behind from a fine rasping shot. The ball comes over and this time Amartey is unable to turn the ball on target. Best spell of the half for Ghana now as the Black Stars fans find their voice.

The ball falls to Abdul Fatawu Issahaku who drives a fine ball across the goal mouth and Nigeria manage to clear for an another corner.

Danger for Nigeria now as Balogun fouls and Ghana are awarded a dangerous free.

Kelechi Iheanacho hits the corner and it's way too long. Both team's use of the dead ball...corners, frees etc has been very wasteful this evening.

Onyeka clipped just outside the box and danger as Ghana have to defend. Four in the wall as Kelechi Iheanacho sees his strike deflected behind for a corner kick.

Free for Ghana on their right hand side... Ayew to take again. Ghana go short and once again make no decent use of a solid dead ball opportunity.

Card for Djiku as he handles as Osimhen ran through. First booking of the night for the RC Strasbourg man.

Decent hit from Arsenal's Partey as Innocent too needs a stretcher after he picks up a knock. Another Ghana corner wasted and their dead balls have been rather poor tonight.

Chukwueze and Aribo are replaced by Dennis and Onyeka.

Kelechi Iheanacho has been stretchered off and is getting medical attention from the Super Eagles doctors

Changes a-foot for Ghana and Nigeria as a series of substitutes will be made now....

Moses Simon shoots with Nigeria's best chance of the night as the Nantes man was in acres of space. The Ghana keeper stood his ground well and cleared with his feet.

The National Stadium in Abuja will be the setting for the second leg next Tuesday and a crowd of 60,000 will pack the ground in what will be the decisive encounter. Ghana will be desperate to take a positive score to Nigeria next week.

New Ghana coach Otto Addo a live-wire in the Ghana technical area tonight with the former player really feeling the pressure of this high voltage occasion. 

Second half adopting a similar pattern to that of the first with Ghana very quick out of the blocks and win another corner kick. Poor effort as Uzoho gathers.

Early corner for Ghana and pressure from the home side.

Ghana start the second half

The teams return to the pitch in Kumasi.

About 500 Nigeria fans here with the usual trumpets are amassed behind the goal that they were defending in the first half.

Ghana subs warming up during the interval with no Super Eagles player visible in their half of the pitch.

Possession in first 45': Ghana 55-45 Nigeria (%)

So, as we anticipated ...a tight and cagey affair with tension among both sides palpable. Ghana have enjoyed the better of the half but have only really come close to scoring on one occasion as Abdul Fatawu Issahaku tried his luck from distance. For Nigeria, Osimhen had a half chance but Swindon stopper Wollacott was level to the effort. A big 45' ahead...one senses Agustine Eguavoen would be happy with this scoreline but Ghana would ideally like a positive scoreline to take to Nigeria next Tuesday.

The whistle sounds and it's 0-0 at the break. Ghana with the better chances in a tight, tight affair.

Into added time in Kumasi and it's been a tight affair as was anticipated as 2 minutes of added time are announced.

Ghana warming up some substitutes as we head towards the half time break. Ghana certainly enjoyed the better of the first 20-30 minutes but Nigeria have stepped up a gear in the past ten.

Aribo breaks into the box but scoops his shot over the bar as Nigeria start to dominate the action now as Ghana are pegged back deep inside their own half.

Osimhen shoots from the edge of the box and appeals for a handball. Ref unimpressed and play continues.

Nigeria enjoy a spell of possession but are well marshaled as Osimhen wins Nigeria's first corner kick of the night. Simon to take.... Ghana clear the danger but the ball comes back in and Osimhen forces Wollacott to save. Better spell for the Super Eagles now.

Issahaku almost opens the scoring with a fierce shot that is palmed away by Uzoho and that has been the best chance of the night.

Ghana still enjoying the better of the first half an hour as Osimhen needs treatment after being caught on his ankle

Mensah drills and the ball is deflected wide for a corner as Ghana win their second of the night.

Ayew drills the ball in from the Ghana left hand side but no-one in a white shirt was available and the Nigeria keeper gathers.

Felix Afena-Gyan breaks into the box and sees his shot deflected away as Nigeria defend these breaks from Ghana well. Still a nervous start from both sides. Ghana having the better of the opening phase but still yet to trouble Francis Uzoho in the Nigeria goal.

Torino's Aina luck not to be carded for a late challenge on Ayew. Free to Ghana....Poor delivery from Ayew himself as the ball is overhit.

15 minutes gone in Kumasi and a cagey and nervy start to the first leg of this play-off. Balogun called into action as Ghana break the offside trap and escape...only for the Rangers man to make the vital challenge.

Moses Simon does well for Nigeria as he wriggles away from two white shirted men but is just unable to find Osimhen. Chukwueze is fouled and seems to be in some distress for Nigeria. Good news, the Villarreal man is back on his feet and the action continues.

A stop-start rhythm to the match so far with the ref's whistle punctuating the action for a series of niggly fouls.

Despite Ghana's slight advantage in terms of possession and offensive play, still nothing resembling a clear cut chance being created by either side. 

In the other CAF x WC play-off game taking place now, Egypt are 1-0 ahead against Senegal in a repeat of the AFCON final.

What can we expect from the Osimhen-Chukwueze striking duo tonight ? The Napoli man was a key absentee for Nigeria at the AFCON after sustaining a serious face injury.

Nervous start from Nigeria as Ghana force the issue in the opening five minutes or so with the Super Eagles yet to get out of the starting block so far.

Every Ghanaian attack and move forward being greeted with a huge response from the home fans.

Corner for Ghana in the second minute...hit long and Nigeria clear

Nigeria start the action in Kumasi... a place in Qatar on the line with the second leg of the tie coming up next Tuesday in Abuja

William Troost-Ekong and Partey exchange pennants and pose for the protocol pre-game picture.

There is VAR tonight !

Red, yellow and green are the predominant colours in the stands but there is a pocked of green & white from the small group of traveling Nigeria fans.

Huge noise level from the 40,000 fans packed into the Kumasi Sports Stadium as we await the national anthems of both nations.

A packed house here in Kumasi tonight as the sides take to the pitch, Super Eagles set to play in their dark green away kit. Ghana in their classic home white kit.

Ghana will be without suspended captain Andre Ayew, how much of a loss will the absence of the 100 plus capped striker prove for the Black Stars?

The Jollof Derby !

Jollof Wars, a battle between Ghana and Nigeria about which nation does West Africa's iconic rice dish best!!!

The Nigeria Super Eagles are bidding to reach a fourth consecutive World Cup, and a seventh in total, while Ghana - three-time qualifiers - are looking to return to the tournament after failing to reach the 2018 finals in Russia. Their last appearance was at the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

Ghana-Nigeria: match official

Tonight's referee is Moroccan Redouane Jiyed and he will be supported with a full Moroccan team of officials

In the earlier CAF World Cup play off games played today, these were the following scorelines:

DR Congo 1-1 Morocco

Mali 0-1 Tunisia

Cameroon 0-1 Algeria

Team news: Ghana XI

30-year-old Jordan Ayew lines up with 18-year-old Fatwa in a forward line for Ghana. A blend of experience and youth for new coach Otto Addo.

Otto Addo set to debut on Black Stars bench

Addo makes his debut on the Ghana bench tonight after the Black Stars poor experience at the recent AFCON and is part of Ghana's interim coaching team that brings plenty of international experience to the task of winning the playoff against Nigeria.

George Boateng, a Ghana-born former Dutch international who spent many seasons in the English Premier League, is one of Addo's assistants, as is Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, the former head coach of one of Ghana's most successful clubs, Asante Kotoko SC.

Former Newcastle United, Norwich City and Brighton coach Chris Hughton, born in London to a Ghanaian father and Irish mother, has been appointed technical director.

Last competitive outings:

The recent AFCON was the last outing for both nations with Ghana's campaign ending in disastrous fashion as they fell 3-2 to Comoros which saw the Black Stars finish bottom of their group and eliminated from the first stage.

Nigeria started their tournament in fine form finishing top of a group that also included finalists Egypt. The Super Eagles came a cropper in the round of 16 though as they lost to a defensive Tunisia side through a solitary goal.

Baba Yara Sports Stadium

Tonight's venue, the Baba Yara Sports Stadium (also known as the Kumasi Sports Stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium in Kumasi, Ashanti and is Ghana's largest stadium, with a seating capacity of 40,528.

Ndidi blow for Black Stars

Nigeria were dealt a major blow earlier in the week with the news that Wilfred Ndidi has been ruled out of Nigeria’s World Cup playoff against Ghana through injury in a blow to the side's chances of winning a place in the finals in Qatar later this year.

Ndidi, 25, was injured playing for Leicester City in the Europa Conference League against Stade Rennes last week, hurting his knee in a tackle and hobbling off.

Nigeria’s football federation said on Monday he would miss their two-legged qualifying playoff against Ghana and was being replaced in the squad by Innocent Bonke.

The 26-year-old midfielder plays for Lorient in Ligue 1 and made his Nigeria debut last September.

Team news: Nigeria XI

Napoli's Osimhen and Villarreal striker Samuel Chukwueze set to lead the line for Nigeria.

Ghana make their way to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium

The 'Super Eagles' are the fancied team going into the tie but 'Black Stars' fans will be encouraged that in the past five competitive West African derbies, Ghana have win three, two draws and no Nigeria wins !

The first leg action gets underway in Kumasi at 2030 CET/3:30 pm (ET) with the second leg set to take place in Nigeria, Tuesday next.

Hello, good evening and welcome to our live coverage of Ghana vs Nigeria with a place at the 2022 World Cup on the line.