Despite defeat, Ghana coach Otto Addo found positives to highlight in his team's performance, stating their control over the match and asserting that a draw against the Super Eagles would have been a deserved outcome.
Nigeria handed the Black Stars a 2-1 defeat in Marrakech on Friday to record their first victory over their West African rivals in 18 years.
Cyriel Dessers gave the Super Eagles the lead before the interval from the spot. Ademola Lookman then doubled Nigeria's lead in the 84th minute before Jordan Ayew scored from the spot in the 95th minute to give the Black Stars a consolation.
Addo's analysis of the Black Stars' defeat to the Super Eagles
The former Borussia Dortmund man, Addo, shared his view on the match, focusing both on the challenges faced by his team and the positives they exhibited, albeit in a losing effort.
“I don't like to look too much about the positives because we lost,” remarked the Ghana coach in the aftermath of their defeat to the Super Eagles.
“But I think we were a bit unlucky the way we conceded the first goal as the ball hit the hand but like I said we were unlucky. First half they had the better chances but in the second half, we really, really did well.
“If you want to come to the positive signs, the things we did in the second half with 10 men was good. We controlled them; we were a little bit unlucky with the finishing. I think what killed us was their second goal because we were close to actually equalise but in all, a draw would have been deserved but like I said we lost and we have to improve and move on.”
It is worth noting that Addo was recently appointed the new manager of the Black Stars – his second spell since guiding the Black Stars to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a feat he achieved at the expense of Nigeria.
The Black Stars are winless in their last six games.
Nigeria to play Mali on Tuesday
The Super Eagles will, on Tuesday, March 26, engage another West African opposition, Mali, in another friendly in Marrakech.
The AFCON 2023 finalists have dominated their previous meetings, winning six, losing two, and drawing three.
