In-form Ghana were held to a 0-0 draw by a de-spirited Nigeria on Tuesday night in an international friendly played at the Vicarage Road Stadium.Â
The Super Eagles were on a reputation-saving mission after fluffing their lines to miss out on qualifying to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals and they responded to the task.
Head coach Samson Siasia was under pressure after the weekend's debacle and he also achieved the result that can convince the Nigeria Football Federation technical team.
Ghana began with an unrecognizable line-up which included rookie Massawudu Alhassan, a youth team player for Genoa, Mohammed Abu and Albert Adomah.
The Black Stars had chunk of territorial dominance for the first 15 minutes but could not turn their possession into penetration.
Winger Adomah sent in a cross from the left on 11 minutes which was headed by striker Prince Tagoe but that was feeble to beat Nigeria goalkeeper Austine Ejide.
On 22 minutes, Nigeria launched their first serious attack down the right flank but the Ghana shot stopper Kwarasey came out to make the save.
Ahmed Musa delivered a low cross from the right but Brown Ideye could not connect as the Stromsgodset net minder Ghana defence cover well.
The Super Eagles attacked again and this time Uche sent in a deceptive cross which beat the Ghana back line and Kwarasey was also caught ball watching but there was nobody lurking to connect.
Striker Ideye Brown grazed the cross-bar for a laudabe effort on the half-hour mark when he blasted one past Kwarasey who was off his line.
From there, it was a see-sawing contest with Ghana mounting counter-attacks but Owusu-Abeyie and Kwadwo Asamoah were not able to combine effectively.
Lone striker Prince Tagoe lacked the services and was ineffective for a greater part of the match to end the first half goalless.
After the break, Ghana coach shuffled his cards and brought on Samuel Inkoom, Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari but that could not tilt the pendulum.
It was Joel Obi who tested goalkeeper Kwarasey by firing a shot over the top of the goal post.
The clear opening came in the 51st minute when Gyan put Inkoom but the latter could direct it past goalkeeper Ejide. The FC Dnipro player's slipped when he attempted to go past Ejide.
Adiyiah muffed another scoring opportunity when he shimmied a Nigerian but agonizing shot wide when he could tee up Gyan to tap in.
The midfield battle and festival of errors continued until Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo handles a ball just outside the box in the 85th minute.
The free-kick was wasted and both sides made use to their bench to make wholesale substitutions.
Source: MTNFootball.com