WCQ 2022: Nigeria were better - admits Ghana's Addo

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Mar 30, 2022. 16:00

Ghana head coach Otto Addo admitted that Nigeria were the better side during their 2022 FIFA World Cup third round qualification tie.

The 46-year-old tactician guided the Black Stars to a 1-1 draw against the Super Eagles on Tuesday and Ghana qualified for the finals in Qatar after winning the tie on the away goals rule.

Nigeria vice-captain William Troost-Ekong scored to cancel out his Ghana counterpart Thomas Partey’s opening goal with the first-leg encounter having ended in a 0-0 draw in Kumasi last week Friday.

“I am really delighted and exhausted because it was a tough match. We fought our way through,” Addo told My Joy Online after the second-leg clash in Abuja.

“We had big problems, especially in the first half, then we did some changes and the players adapted very well.

“In all the Nigerians were better, I feel a bit pity for them but this is football sometimes and we fought our way through. The referee was against us somehow.”

Addo was happy with Ghana’s defensive display during the tie and he praised his goalkeeper Joojo Wollacott, who frustrated the Super Eagles with some good saves.

“They [Nigeria] had some good chances but our goalkeeper [Joojo Wollacott] was there when we needed him,” the former Ghana international continued.

“The defending was outstanding and we had a little bit of luck also because we concede chances.”

Addo feels that his predecessors Milovan Rajevac and C.K Akonnor deserve credit for having also coached the Black Stars during their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.

“Thank you to Kurt Okraku for giving me this opportunity. Also to the backroom, who are always supporting me,” the former Borussia Dortmund and Mainz 05 attacker added.

“Milovan Rajevac and C.K Akonnor all belong to this [qualifying to the WC] We did this together and for the players who are not here.