COACHES Daniel Ogunmodede and Mas-Ud Didi Dramani of Nigeria’s Super Eagles B and Ghana’s Black Galaxies respectively have been talking tough ahead of today’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying clash in Uyo.
The first leg ended 0-0 in Accra and today’s encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium will decide which of the fierce rivals proceeds to the 2025 CHAN in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
At the pre-match press conference yesterday, Dramani insisted his boys had the better opportunities in the first leg in Accra and will not be easy targets for the Eagles in Uyo.
“We created far more chances and were unlucky not to score. No need crying over spilt milk. Tomorrow is an opportunity to get the goals and qualify for the CHAN. It is not going to be easy as there is never any clash between Nigeria and Ghana that can be easy,” he said.
“The Super Eagles team is a good one and we have to take our game to another level. We will play an attacking game. Football is about scoring; even when you’re consciously soaking up pressure, you’re still looking to go on the counter and score. Our objective is to qualify for the final tournament.”
Ghana stopped Nigeria from reaching the 2009 and 2023 finals, in Cote d’Ivoire and Algeria respectively, and also defeated Nigeria after a penalty shootout when a semi-final clash at the 3rd African Nations Championship in South Africa in 2014 ended 0-0.
“They (Ghana) may be depending on so much history and the times they have been victorious over Nigeria, especially in the CHAN, but we are blind to that. In camp, we are not allowing any historical talk to distract us. We are focused on achieving the win that will see us qualify for the finals,” Ogunmodede, who is also the head coach of Remo Stars, fired back.
“We are prepared physically, mentally and psychologically for this match. Our special plea is for the fans to troop out on Saturday to come and support the boys. The Ghanaians came out in large numbers to support their team in the first leg and this imbued their players with extra energy and aggression.”
