Ghana’s coach, Mas Ud Dramani and Nigeria’s Daniel Ogunmodede has raised the temperature as both coaches blow hot ahead of Saturday’s Jollof Derby, Sports247 reports.
After the goalless first leg in Accra, between Nigeria and Ghana week ago, both coaches are talking tough in the tough as the Nigeria and Ghana are poised to write a new chapter in the hot rivalry between the two countries.
This time, it’s the return leg set for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday 28th December 2024 and at stake is the ticket for 8th African Nations Championship.
At the pre-match press conference on Friday evening, the coach Ghana, Mas Ud Dramani insisted on getting the sole ticket as his boys are coming to score the goals that will get them the ticket.
“We created far more chances and were unlucky not to score. No need crying over spilt milk. Tomorrow (Saturday) is an opportunity to get the goals and qualify for the CHAN,” began Dramani.
The coach acknowledged the strength of the Super Eagles B but he insisted, the Ghanaians will take the game to their host and get the goals that will help them to achieve their objective of getting the ticket at the expense of Nigeria.
“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.” Dramani Emphasised.
Ghana needed at least a score draw to qualify and the Nigeria team are facing huge odds in overcoming the Ghanians if history is anything to go by in as similar encounters have gone the way of the Ghanian, against Nigeria.
Ghana stopped Nigeria from reaching the 2009 and 2023 editions of the CHAN which took place in Cote d’Ivoire and Algeria respectively.
Still fresh in the memories is the painful loss of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Abuja where the Black Stars stole a 1-1 draw, riding on the away goal rule to beat Nigeria to the ticket.
However, Coach Ogunmodede is looking beyond the history and declared the Saturday’s game in Uyo as a new day, a new setting and his team are prepared to finish the job, half done in Accra last week.
Ogunmodede said: “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.” said the Remo Stars FC coach at the press conference on Friday.
The match kick is 4 pm and and the winner over the two legs will qualify for the 8th CHAN competition which is to be hosted in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, from February 1 to February 28, 2025.
