Ghanian home-based senior team, the Black Galaxies on Sunday defeated the Super Eagles home-based team by 2-0 in the CHAN 2023 qualifiers match played at Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
The two goals, which came in the second half, were enough to ensure victory for the host and leave the Nigerian team with a tall order in the return leg in Abuja on Saturday.
In the first half, the game was cagey but coming into the second half, the Ghanian team outplayed the Nigerian side as Afrieye Barneh converted from the spot in the 50th minute, and Seidu Suraj got a second in the 87th minute to put the game past the Super Eagles.
Valiant efforts by the Super Eagles to get even after going a goal behind as the game wore on, came to no avail and were then open to a sucker punch as Suraj unleashed a shot from close range that Adewale could only punch into his own net with four minutes left.
If the Ghanaian team qualifies, they would be returning to the CHAN after missing out on the last three editions.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian team will head into the second leg hoping to overturn the defeat to make a return to the competition after missing out on the last edition in Cameroon.