https://www.myjoyonline.com/they-chanted-ghana-must-go-to-where-to-qatar/-------https://www.myjoyonline.com/they-chanted-ghana-must-go-to-where-to-qatar/

Deputy Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Bawa Majeed was seen running from the Northern end of the Moshood Abiola Stadium.

In front of him was Kwame Baah Nuakoh, Chairman, Ghana FA Club Licensing in his yellow and black national team jersey.

On his left, was a police car, on his right, was a private vehicle. They almost flanked him, but he had to run to safety towards the stadium.

1000s of cars were honking, with on boarders and pedestrians screaming at the top of their voices, 'Ghana must go!'.

Three gentlemen at the VVIP end of the stadium had blue and white bags with the inscription in ink, "GHANA MUST GO!" in block letters.

They were part of a crowd that overpowered security cordon and entered the stadium.

Security chose to protect a gentleman who was physically impaired and allowed them to have their way after attempts to push back failed.

Ghana must go to where is the obvious question. Qatar or back to Accra empty handed?

Before kick-off on this never to be forgotten day at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, over 60,000 fans were expectant. Over 200 million at home; from Lagos to Benin, Ware to Abuja, Port Harcourt to Kaduna, Kano to Sokoto, this was a night made for the Eagles.

Those in the stadium had their voices at octane level. The atmosphere was defeaning, and infectious. It could be touched, too. 

This crowd was brought to scare the Black Stars and suffocate them to death. This crowd, the government decided to give them half a day to work, was here to send down shivers in the spines of Otto Addo's men.

This crowd was given an incentive of 2000 Naira to watch their national team.

Led by a stadium announcer, they chanted 'Super Eagles!' No. It was not done like that. It was a rehearsed chorus. He would take the initial nickname of this national team with over 200 million supporters, 'Super!' and the crowd would respond, Eagles…' He would mention the first name of a player, and they will complete it.

The noise reverberated every corner of this edifice revered. Tension was palpable from the fans with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

Every corner of this 60,000 seater cathedral was full of a partisan crowd. A crowd here to witness a ticket to Qatar for the Super Eagles.

This crowd had the names of these Eagles on their lips.

Victor Osimhen had the loudest cheer. High expectations on the shoulder of a man who scores for fun in the Serie A with Napoli. 

But, tonight, it was a different night, a night meant for the Stars to illuminate Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Cape Coast, Takoradi, and many other cities in Ghana and even, Nigeria.

When the players walked onto the pitch to take a walk, the cheers reached its crescendo.

Every warm-up move was accompanied by a cheer. 

This was a contrast for Ghana. Black Stars were orphans in the land of the neighbours who fight even a jollof contest with them.

They were booed and jeered. The 1,800 seats made available for Ghana fans were dwarfed in this ocean of Eagle lovers.

Not even Thomas Partey who received love at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Sheraton Hotel, where the team lodged could get love from these fans.

It was partisan, it was toxic, and rightly so. These Eagles had their share in Kumasi in the first leg on March 25.

Otto kept faith in the same team that earned a zero-all stalemate four days ago, while his opponent Augustine Eguavon made changes to his arsenals for the night.

Leicester City's Kelechi Iheanacho dropped to the bench alongside the injured Samuel Chukwueze and Innocent Bonke, as well as Moses Simon.

This contest, which Ghana led began with boos, for the Black Stars and cheers in equal measure for the Eagles.

Everything Ghanaian was drowned, but Partey will shut them up, less than 10 minutes into this night in Abuja where the Eagle could not fly above the Stars.

It was his trademark strike which found its way underneath Francis Uzoho. Nigeria Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, who said the Stars will be beaten blue-black looked visibly distressed alongside President Mahamadu Buhari, the Nigeria Football Federation bosses, looked like those who lost a business contract.

It was the beginning of what would be a long night, but it wasn't. Pressure was piled on Ghana, but Jojo Wallacott was up to the task, pulling two stupendous quick saves.

When Ghanaians thought they had seen the last of the pressure from Eguavon's men, the referee was directed to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) monitor, and he returned to the pitch, pointing to the spot. Penalty Nigeria. 

The spectators found their voices. Skipper William Troost-Ekong stepped up and hit the ball beyond the reach of impressive Wallacott.

Honours even.

It was a goal with many questions. First, it was a melee where Eagles forward Ademola Lookman, who tried wriggling his way through Daniel Amartey and Denis Odoi fell before a sea of opponents, with his hand touching the ball, but the referee deemed it a penalty.

In all honesty, Odoi stepped on his foot, but was that a penalty? The referee thought so.

If that was a moment many a Ghanaian began feeling uneasy about the referee's decisions tonight, there would be another one involving Osimhen. 

The Napoli man appears to be yards offside, the assistant referee allowed play to continue when the ball was lobbed behind the backline of Ghana.

He outpaced Amartey, but Wallacott was on hand to cover. He cleared, but the ball ricocheted, and ball hit the hand of the forward, he was allowed to score with his head into an empty net. 

The stadium erupted. Ecstasy unconfined. Players and fans celebrated in unison, but the VAR would come to Ghana's aid, cancelling out the goal despite calls from the fans that the goal should stand. For the Stars, it was a moment to heave a sigh of relief.

Fatawu Issahaku and Afena Gyan all came close, but they were not close enough, while Osimhen whose touches were greeted with a cheer of his name, flashed the front of Ghana's post.

Advantage Ghana in frantic first half.

Fatawu Issahaku, Jordan Ayew and Baba Iddrisu dropped to the bench for the final hurdle for Kofi Kyereh, Elisha Owusu, and Andy Yiadom.

Nigeria responded: Abdullahi Shehu replaced Frank Onyeka, Moses Simon replaced Lookman, Idion Ighalo came in for Emmanuel Dennis, and Ahmed Musa substituted Etebo. These legs were introduced, but they could not fly higher.

Ghana piled the early pressure, forcing the Eagles into making mistakes. Uzoho made a silly howler, Afena Gyan threatened, but it remained just a threat. The fans turned against their team momentarily, demanding an improvement and they did making dangerous incursions at the other end to the admiration of the same supporters who were disappointed moments earlier.

Leon Balogun came close with a header, Osimhen skied his bicycle kick before an empty net. Thomas Party would get angry at his mates, shouting instructions when it appeared Nigeria had Ghana to the ropes.

The Super Eagles were dominant, but Wallocott stood between them a goal. He made saves when he had to, shouted at the backline, and delayed the clock a bit, which got him yellow carded.

Neither could find a breakthrough, and Ghana heads to Qatar.

History made for Otto Addo, history made for Thomas Partey's generation who heads to Qatar, achieving the feet on the soil of a sworn rival.

Spectators sang Ghana must go. To where, to Qatar. And Ghana goes to Qatar. 

Fans pelted the players with water bottles, others walked out with 10 minutes to play, while the truants broke through the gates, attempting to assault the players. 

When they could not vent their spleen on the players, they turned on the goalposts, substitutes bench, and pulled them down. Smoke filled the pitch stadium. It was messy.

It is easy to appreciate their disappointment. They didn't lose a football match, they lost a war on every front, which is unacceptable.

But, to leave it mildly for Nigeria,  you wanted to have a party on Tuesday night with a ticket to Qatar, but where would you have had the light to have that party?

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.