CHAN
Ghana Black Galaxies coach promises Super Eagles B hell in Uyo
Ghana Black Galaxies are banking on the repeat of the Black Stars versus Super Eagles Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying episode to again oust Nigeria from qualifying for the 8th edition of the African Nations Championship.
Nigeria and Ghana head to a crucial decider on Saturday in Uyo after the first leg in Accra ended goalless last Sunday.
That was similar to the 2021 episode in which Ghana eventually secured a 1-1 draw that gave them the edge in the World Cup qualification.
According to the coach of Black Galaxies, Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, the team is focusing on the return leg and will be backed by the mentality of the last 2022 World Cup play-off tournament between the Super Eagles and the Black Stars.
Dramani highlighted the positives from the first leg, emphasizing the exposure the players gained from the encounter.
“When we don’t qualify, there is still positive. What is positive about this is that these boys have been exposed to a certain level of our Ghanaian league, and this is the page we want to print out — expressing our domestic competition structure to the rest of Africa and the world,” the former Black Stars assistant coach stated.
Dramani reiterated the team’s focus on preparation, saying, “We are not even thinking about the result yet; we are just focused on how to prepare, get to Nigeria, and deliver on the pitch.”
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After missing out on the qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Morocco, Ghana is set to be a glaring absentee at the 2025 African Nations Championship after they were forced to a goalless draw in the first-leg duel by the Nigeria Super Eagles B side.
It was the first time the Ghanaian team failed to secure a win over Nigeria in the qualification duel played in Accra. The return leg will be held in Uyo on Saturday.
The failure to score in the first leg has compounded the woes of the Ghana national team as the elite squad already missed out on the more prestigious Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since their absence in Tunisia 2004.
Ghanaians are worried over possible double absence in the two continental fiestas.
However, it was in such a chaotic situation in the race to Qatar 2022 that they upstaged Nigeria in the final hurdle after a goalless outing at home.
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For the first time in their African Nations Championship clash with Ghana, the Nigerian team averted a defeat in Ghana after their Sunday match ended goalless in Accra.
It is now winner-takes-it-all as they meet again in Uyo on Saturday to determine which of the two teams qualifies for the final tournament in East Africa next month.
The Nigerian side put up a resilient performance averting defeats as in previous encounters when they lost 3-2 in the maiden edition in 2008 and 2-0 in the 2022 qualifiers.
Ghana’s Black Galaxies dominated the first period with a string of opportunities, but they found the Super Eagles’ rearguard marshalled by Captain Nduka Junior impenetrable.
Stephen Amankwoo found a leeway through the Eagles’ defence in the 15th minute only to see his rising shot go inches wide of Henry Ozoemena’s goalpost.
Sikiru Alimi’s free kick, with a minute to half time, also went over the sticks as the game became a ding-dong affair between the regional powerhouses.
Both teams now look forward to the second leg of the fixture, set for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, with the winner on aggregate to represent WAFU B at the biennial championship reserved exclusively for professional footballers plying their trade in their country’s domestic leagues.
The eighth instalment of the African Nations Championship will be hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, 1st – 28th February 2025.
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CHAN
Will the Super Eagles -B maintain the trend as travelling teams enjoy away victories in CHAN 2024 first-leg qualifiers
Facing Ghana’s Black Galaxies this Sunday, the Super Eagles – B team may benefit from the current trend of away teams picking victories in the first leg matches of the African Nations Championship.
None of the away teams lost in the five matches played on Saturday. This Sunday, there are eight matches on the card. One of such is the Ghana versus Nigeria duel in Accra.
The match is vengeance-laced for the two teams apart from extending their age-long rivalry.
Nigeria had been on the losing side in previous CHAN clashes with Ghana. They therefore seek vengeance.
Ghana on the other hand have been the losers in recent encounters with Nigerian teams this year. They lost to Nigeria in a friendly match this year in Morocco.
The Nigerian U-20 team also beat Ghana in the regional WAFU Cup final match this year.
For the Nigerian side, they are taking a cue from the other away teams this week as host teams became casualties to visiting sides in the first leg matches.
In the five matches on Saturday, only Congo teams drew their matches. DR Congo drew 1-1 with Chad while Congo played goalless with Equatorial Guinea.
All other away teams secured victories. This could be an harbinger of good fortune for the Super Eagles-B
On Saturday, Lesotho, the away team, secured a confidence-boosting win over ‘hosts’ Angola in Durban, South Africa.
In a Southern African derby, Zambia’s Chipolopolo pummelled Mozambique in a one-sided affair that saw the Zambians 3-0.
Eswatini also lost 2-0 at home to Madagascar in Mbabane.
CHAN 2024 Qualifiers Results on Saturday
Lesotho 0-2 Angola
Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Congo
Mozambique 0-3 Zambia
Eswatini 0-2 Madagascar
Chad 1-1 DR Congo
Sunday’s CHAN 2024 QualifiersFixtures (Time in GMT)
13:00: South Sudan vs Rwanda
14:00: Central African Republic vs Cameroon
14:00: Ethiopia vs Sudan
16:00: Ghana vs Nigeria
16:00: Cote d’Ivoire vs Burkina Faso
16:00: Liberia vs Senegal
16:00: Togo vs Niger
17:00: Mauritania vs Mali
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