Cyriel Dessers and Lookman score as Nigeria silence loud neighbours Ghana in friendly

• Nigeria have beaten Ghana in the international friendly in Morocco
• Cyriel Dessers and Ademola Lookman inspired the Super Eagles
• Nigeria will face Mali in their next game while Ghana play Uganda

Nigeria defeated arch-rivals Ghana in an international friendly in Morocco after Cyriel Dessers and Ademola Lookman scored at either side of the half before a late consolation from Jordan Ayew.

The Super Eagles made their intentions clear early in the game after Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho forced goalkeeper Lawrence At Zigi into a brilliant save.

Iheanacho was again denied by a defensive block following a quick interchange of passes with Fulham's Alex Iwobi.

However, the dominant Super Eagles will win a penalty moments later after Iheanacho's strike from outside the box hit the hand of Jerome Opoku in the box, who was later sent off in the second half.

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Cyriel Dessers elected himself for the spot-kick and made no mistake as he sent Ati Zigi the wrong way.

Ghana had a chance to pull level after Ernest Nuamah sent Antoine Semenyo through but the Bournemouth attacker fired wide as the Super Eagles headed into the break with the lead.

After the break, coach Otto Addo of Ghana introduced Tariq Lamptey and the Brighton defender almost got an equaliser for Ghana.

The Black Stars began to pile some pressure on Nigeria with Jordan Ayew coming close from a header before Lamptey put Stanley Nwabali to the test with a thunderous strike.

Semenyo had another opportunity to level for Ghana but could not get the right connection.

Finidi George introduced AFCON star Ademola Lookman later in the game and just moments after coming on, the Atalanta forward finished a brilliant attack after latching onto Iwobi's pass.

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Just before the final whistle, Semenyo was fouled in the box and Ayew converted to reduce the deficit.

Ghana will next face Uganda with the Super Eagles engaging Mali.

Finidi George opens up on Ghana friendly

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Finidi George insisted that international friendly between the Black Stars of Ghana and the Super Eagles of Nigeria is beyond 'friendly' due to the rivalry between the two nations.

The last time the two sides met, Ghana edged Nigeria to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

However, the Super Eagles seem to be on the ascendency after reaching the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where they lost to host Ivory Coast in the final.