Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has congratulated the senior national football team Black Stars on their qualification to the 2022 World Cup against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

In statement issued on Wednesday, he noted that the victory comes a source of excitement to many Ghanaians.

“As an ardent lover and a keen follower of football, I appreciate the enormous role football plays in unifying citizens, particularly Ghanaians,” he said.

This comes after the Black Stars won the World Cup qualifiers by the away rule when they drew 1-1 against Nigeria at the Moshood Abiola Sports Stadium in Abuja.

Thomas Partey opened the scoring in the 10th minute of the game after sending in a thunderous strike from outside the penalty box to give Ghana the lead, but William Troost-Ekong equalised for the home side.

Despite several attempts from Nigeria in the second half, there was no goal to separate the two sides as Ghana secured qualification on the away goal rule.

According to Mr Bagbin, “the joy that the team brought us on Tuesday evening is very refreshing and I commend them for a good job done. I trust that the Black Stars will be successful in their subsequent matches to bring glory to our country.”

Warm congratulations to the Senior National Football Team, the Black Stars, for their dogged display in Abuja, and qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. I am very proud of the team’s exploits. They have made the entire nation proud.

— Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) March 29, 2022

With this win, Ghana returns to the ‘Mondial’ to be played between November and December, this year, after missing out on the last edition in Russia in 2018.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has also lauded the team for qualifying to the World championship.

Taking to Twitter, he congratulated the team for their “dogged display in Abuja.” He stated that the team has made the nation proud with this victory.

“Warm congratulations to the Senior National Football Team, the Black Stars… for qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. I am very proud of the team’s exploits. They have made the entire nation proud,” he tweeted.