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CHAN Qualifier: Ogunmodede, Dramani goad Eagles, Galaxies to flaming war

Our Reporters3 months ago3 months ago04 mins

Both Coaches Daniel Ogunmodede and Mas-Ud Didi Dramani of Nigeria and Ghana respectively, have stiffened their muscles further on the sticks as they beat the drums harder ahead of Saturday’s 8th African Nations Championship qualifying tie-breaker in Uyo. At the pre-match press conference on Friday evening, Dramani insisted his boys created the greater chances in the first leg in Accra and will not be sitting ducks for the Eagles to peck relentlessly at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. “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. “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 scoreless. In addition, the Black Stars barred the Super Eagles from reaching the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals, despite a scoreless finish in the first leg in Kumasi. In Abuja, Thomas Partey scored before a William Ekong penalty evened the scoreline, but the result was enough to spring the Stars to the final tournament in Qatar at the expense of the Eagles. However, Coach Ogunmodede insisted it is a new day and a new setting when both senior home-based professionals battle it out in south-south Nigeria on Saturday evening. “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. “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.”

Victory, to qualify for CHAN finals, is our watchword -Ogunmodede

Our Reporters3 months ago3 months ago05 mins

Stand-in Head Coach Daniel Ogunmodede said on Thursday that the big focus of the Super Eagles B players and officials ahead of Saturday’s African Nations Championship qualifying game against Ghana’s Black Galaxies is to attain victory that will spring Nigeria to the finals of the competition early next year. Both illustrious regional rivals battled to a scoreless stalemate in Accra on Sunday and the final qualifying fixture is delicately poised ahead of the decider at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday. “We are doing everything to stay focused by avoiding any distractions. Yes, we got a scoreless draw in the first leg away and now playing at home, but we are not in any way carried away. Our objective was to score an away goal in Accra but that did not happen. “On Saturday, we will approach the game like our lives depend on it. Our watchword is getting the win that will qualify us for the African Nations Championship finals coming up in East Africa.” The eighth instalment of the competition reserved for footballers plying their trade in their nation’s domestic Leagues will take place across Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, 1st – 28th February 2025. Nigeria defended stoutly at the Accra Sports Stadium while relying on counter-attacks, but will have to launch onslaughts from the blast of the referee’s whistle at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. Their bitter regional rivalry, Ghana’s failure to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals and results of previous encounters in the African Nations Championship are indices that have rendered Saturday’s match a potentially-explosive affair with endless fireworks. The Black Stars have failed to reach the 35th AFCON finals, from a group that included Sudan, Angola and Niger Republic, and the Galaxies will throw the kitchen sink at the Super Eagles B to ensure they don’t follow in that negative trend. Ghana last missed the Africa Cup of Nations in 2004. For Nigeria, Ghana have dominated their African Nations Championship clashes, with the Eagles winning only one of six previous clashes. Three have resulted in scoreless draws. Ghana won 3-2 in Accra in 2008 and also 2-0 in Accra in 2022, and to boot, have claimed victory in even in the ones that ended in ties. The 0-0 draw in Calabar in 2008 meant Ghana sailed through to the inaugural CHAN finals in Cote d’Ivoire on the strength of their 3-2 win in Accra two weeks earlier, and when their semi-final clash in the third instalment of the final tournament in South Africa in 2014 ended 0-0, the Galaxies prevailed 4-1 after a penalty shootout. Ogunmodede’s charges have earned Nigeria’s best result against Ghana in the African Nations Championship on away ground, and look poised to gain victory in Uyo on Saturday.