Nigeria Slightly Favored to Seal the Ticket
Since 1994, Nigeria has only missed the 2006 World Cup. On the other hand, Ghana is trying to return to the big stage after missing the 2018 edition.
The first leg was intense, but Ghana couldn’t fulfill its role as the soccer betting favorite. The game ended 0-0 and now the roles have been reversed. Nigeria dominates the odds board despite having two straight home games without winning.
Let’s check the latest news, stats, injury reports, and Africa World Cup Qualifier odds for Nigeria vs Ghana. We’ve plenty of predictions for you to consider.
Nigeria Must Win
Another goalless draw would mean overtime. However, any draw with goals would mean Nigeria’s elimination. That’s why Ghana is offering a +345 price in the sportsbook, but the draw is there sitting at +180.
The Super Eagles, who had plenty of opportunities to score in the first leg, are offering a +105 price. That shouldn’t be a surprise considering Victor Osimhen is back at full speed. He’s one of the main reasons for Napoli to be fighting at the top of the Italian Serie A. He scored four goals in two games right before the international break.
Nigeria’s squad is very young, center-back, Leon Balogun is over 30 years old. Nevertheless, everyone is used to competing at a high level. That includes midfielder Innocent Bonke, who replaced the injured Wilfred Ndidi in the first leg. Ndidi will also miss Tuesday’s game.
In November, during the African Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles proved they aren’t afraid of anything or anyone. They won Group D with a perfect record, six goals for and only one against. They faced Egypt, the team that finished as runners-up. They lost to Tunisia in the Round of 16 but keep in mind that they played with 10 players pretty much the entire second half.
Ghana’s Little Streak
Ghana didn’t meet expectations in the African Cup of Nations. The Black Stars finished the Group Stage winless. For me, that’s just another proof that the World Cup Qualifiers have always been their top priority.
Why? Because they’ve lost only one of seven games on the road to Qatar 2022. That includes not losing in their last five and finishing with a clean sheet three times. Goalkeeper Jojo Walcott deserves a lot of praise for that.
Ghana’s squad is led by midfielder Thomas Partey, who plays for Arsenal in the English Premier League. Partey’s having a great season with the Gunners, enough to draw attention from several Italian powerhouses. The attacking unit is led by 19-year-old Felix Ohene Afena-Gyan. Hey, if Jose Mourinho (AS Roma) recruited him, he must be special.
The Black Stars are not used to being the betting online underdogs. However, as I mentioned before, all they need is a draw (with goals). In other words, the pressure is on Nigeria’s shoulders. Plus, there are no major injuries to report here.
Nigeria vs Ghana Head-to-Head
- Previous Matches: 46
- Nigeria Victories: 10 (41 goals)
- Ghana Victories: 18 (68 goals)
- Draws: 18
As I mentioned before, the first leg ended with a goalless draw. It was as close as the scoreboard dictates. Ghana won possession with 56 percent, however, both ended up making two shots on goal. It was only the third time that these two collided on the road to a World Cup. Nigeria remains unbeaten with a 1-2-0 record.
Nigeria vs Ghana Game Information
- Date: Tuesday, March 29th.
- Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Abuja National Stadium, Nigeria
- Nigeria vs Ghana Live Stream: fuboTV
Nigeria vs Ghana Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
| Nigeria | -½ +105 | +105 | 1½-140o | 1½+200o / 1½-260u |
| Ghana | +½ -135 | +345 | 1½+110u | ½-110o / ½-120u |
| Draw | +180 |
Nigeria vs Ghana Prediction
All first-leg games in the Third Round of the CAF World Cup Qualifiers ended with a total under 2½ goals. I expect that to happen considering there’s no tomorrow for the losing team, literally.
I also expect Nigeria to set the tone with Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Kelechi Iheanacho leading the way. Chukwueze helped Villarreal reach the UEFA Champions League Round of 8. Iheanacho learns from Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), one of the best center strikers in the world,
The Super Eagles must go all-in at home. That’s why you should include the team’s total going over in your soccer picks.
Score Prediction: Nigeria 2, Ghana 1
![March Madness Sweet 16 | NCAA Tournament Picks and Early Elite 8 Bets [March 25]](https://www.betus.com.pa/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/march-madness-sweet-16-ncaa-tournament-picks-and-early-elite-8-bets-march-25-75x75.jpg)
