Ghana paid for their high prolificacy and lost 2-0 to Nigeria in the semi-final of the 2015 African Youth Championship on Wednesday in Dakar.
The Black Satellites had a lion’s share of territorial dominance but could not convert the hatful of scoring chances that came their way in both halves.
As early as the tenth minute, enterprising midfielder Yaw Yeboah was put through clear on goal but he was slow to react and goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo came out to fist it out, crashing the Ghana player in the process.
Ghana continued the onslaught and it was Yeboah again asking questions when he whipped in a free-kick close to the edge of the box with his left but Enaholo firmly parried over the frame.
Against the run of play, Nigeria opened the scoring on 20 minutes when Obinna Nwobodo’s header came off the side post and then the goalkeeper Michael Sai.
Sellas Tetteh’s boys were defiant and kept pushing for the equalizer with some delectable football.
A nice move from the left by Prosper Kassim who released Yeboah inside the box but the Manchester City player’s shot came off the side post after beating goalkeeper Enaholo
Three minutes later, striker Benjamin Tetteh was put through but his powerful from 18 yards on the left side of the box went agonizingly wide.
After the break, the Satellites sustained the pressure but were still impotent at goal.
On 52 minutes, the referee waived play to continue after Yeboah was felled inside the box to deny Ghana a penalty.
Nigeria remained focused and repelled all attacks mounted by the Satellites with their hit-and-run game plan.
With ten minutes to play, Musah Mohammed converted a spot-kick after left-back Patrick Asmah fouled him inside the box.
Ghana pushed hard but could not utilize their chances and winger Kassim was the worst culprit.
Nigeria will face the winner of Thursday’s second semi-final between Mali and hosts Senegal in Sunday’s final.