Nigeria’s Dream Team kicked off their All Africa Games football event with an impressive 2-0 victory over defending champions, Ghana.
Goals in each half from Ajayi (55’) and Sakari (87’) ensured that Samson Siasia’s wards comfortably top their group after Ghana and Senegal had played goalless in their opening match.
Following Egypt’s withdrawal there are only three teams left in the group, with the top two to qualify, which means that even a draw in Nigeria’s last match against Senegal will see them topping the group.
For Nigerian football fans, the performance of the Dream Team went a long way in assuaging their feelings after the Super Eagles’ limp display against Tanzania in an African Nations Cup qualifier over the weekend.
Incidentally, both nations have met at U-23 level four times with Nigeria claiming two victories over Ghana’s lone victory. A match has also been drawn at this stage.
Their first meeting was in July 2007 in an Olympic Games qualifier which Nigeria won 3-2 while the return leg of the qualifier was played in November 2007 and it ended in a goalless draw.
The two matches were handled by Siasisa.
Nigeria has only won the AAG football gold medal and that was way back in 1973 when they hosted the competition for the first time.
