Nigeria vs Ghana: coaches rally teams for CHAN decider

By Olaolu Joseph

Coaches Daniel Ogunmodede of Nigeria and Mas-Ud Didi Dramani of Ghana have intensified preparations as their teams gear up for Saturday’s decisive African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying tie-breaker at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

At Friday’s pre-match press conference, Dramani expressed confidence in his team’s ability to overcome the Super Eagles, despite missed opportunities in the first leg in Accra.

“We created more chances and were unlucky not to score. Tomorrow offers us another chance to qualify for CHAN. Matches between Nigeria and Ghana are never easy, but we will raise our game, play attacking football, and aim for the win,” Dramani said.

Ghana has a history of thwarting Nigeria’s ambitions in crucial matches, including denying the Super Eagles CHAN final appearances in 2009 and 2023 and eliminating them during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

However, Coach Ogunmodede dismissed any psychological advantage from past encounters, focusing on the task ahead.

“They (Ghana) may rely on history, but we are focused on the present. In camp, we’ve avoided distractions from past results. We are fully prepared physically, mentally, and psychologically to secure victory and qualify for the finals,” Ogunmodede stated.

He urged fans to fill the stadium on Saturday, emphasizing the impact of strong home support.

“The Ghanaians had massive support in the first leg, which energized their players. We need our fans to do the same and inspire the team to victory.”

The clash promises to be intense as both sides battle for a spot in the CHAN finals.