African Games: Nigeria's Falconets settle for silver medal after Ghana defeat

• Nigeria's U20 national women's team lost 2-1 in extra time to host nation Ghana in the final of the 2023 African Games.
• The two nations played out a 1-1 draw in regulation time, but the Black Princesses nicked an extra-time winner to secure the goal medal in the female football event at the championships.

It could have ended differently for Nigeria, though, if the Falconets had converted a couple of the chances they created in the match.

Falconets had the early momentum in their favour, and in the 25th minute, the defending champions took the lead.

Exciting forward Loveth Edeh poked home from close range after benefiting off a terrible howler from the Ghanaian goalkeeper.

Nigeria had the chance to double their advantage in first-half stoppage time, but the post denied Chris Danjuma's girls the second goal their performance deserved.

However, aided indirectly by some questionable calls from the centre referee and a boisterous crowd inside the Cape Coast Stadium, Ghana grew into the game after the break.

And in the 77th minute, the Black Princesses merged the equaliser off the boots of Tracy Twum.

It was the first goal Nigeria would concede at the African Games, having previously shut out Senegal, Morocco, and Uganda in the earlier rounds.

Nothing could separate the two teams at full time as the game proceeded into extra time.

A few minutes into the restart, Ghana got their noses in front for the first time in the encounter as Mukarama Abdullai netted the Black Princesses' second goal.

Hard as the Falconets tried, they could not find a late equaliser, allowing Ghana to claim their second-ever gold medal in African Games history.

It is the first time Nigeria will lose the final of the African Games, having won in their three previous appearances in the title decider.