Africa: 2022 World Cup – Ghana Win Nicaragua Friendly, Senegal Held By Iran

Ghana were the only African side to win their final friendly on Tuesday before they name their provisional squad for the 2022 World Cup to be held in Qatar in November.

The Black Stars defeated South American nation Nicaragua 1-0 on Tuesday night in the Spanish city of Lorca as the continent’s five sides wrapped up their preparations.

All the five African countries to play in Qatar took advantage of this week’s international break to engage in friendlies three weeks before they name their provisional squads.

Senegal were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow World Cup-bound Iran in Austria, Morocco played out to a goalless draw with Paraguay’s while Cameroon and Tunisia lost their matches.

The Carthage Eagles were handed a 5-1 defeat by five-time world champions Brazil while the Indomitable suffered a 1-0 narrow defeat to South Korea.

The highlight of Tuesday’s game belonged to talented teenage midfielder Abdul Fatawu Issahaku who curled in from the edge of the box in the 34th minute to give Ghana the victory over the South Americans.

The Black Stars, who changed several players from Friday’s 3-0 defeat to Brazil, could have won the game by a wider margin but their attackers could not convert the several scoring opportunities they created in the second-half.

The two matches, over the past week for the Black Stars, have been important as they prepared to take on Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay in Group H at the World Cup.

An own goal by Morteza Pouraliganji gave Senegal the lead in their match against Iran but Sardar Azmoun restored parity moments later.

The African champions defeated Bolivia 2-0 a few days ago and the two matches during the international break has given coach Aliou Cisse the best chance to observe his players.