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 8^th 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 to cry 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 3^rd 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.”

Niger became the latest team to secure a spot in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) following a goalless draw against Togo in their second-leg encounter on Friday.

The Mena A’ side advanced on the away goals rule, having drawn 1-1 in the first leg played in Lomé.

The match, held at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako, Mali, saw both teams produce a cautious performance.

Despite their efforts, the local Sparrowhawks of Togo failed to find the breakthrough they needed to overcome Niger’s slight advantage.

The result ensures Niger’s fifth appearance in the CHAN finals, cementing their status as one of the competition’s consistent performers.

Meanwhile, Sudan became the first team to book a place in the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) after a resilient 2-1 victory over Ethiopia in their second-leg clash on Wednesday.

The result, combined with a 2-0 win in the first leg, saw the Nile Crocodiles comfortably advance 4-1 on aggregate to play in the tournament following Wednesday’s match.

The match, played in front of a jubilant home crowd, saw Sudan start with intent. Musa Kanti opened the scoring in the 16th minute, piling pressure on the Walya Antelopes, who faced a daunting three-goal deficit.

Ethiopia struggled to find a foothold in the first half as Sudan’s defence held firm.

After the break, the visitors showed more determination and were rewarded in the 65th minute when Bekele Berhane struck to level the game.

However, Ethiopia’s joy was short-lived. Just four minutes later, Sudan’s captain Mohamed Abdelrahman restored the lead with a clinical finish, sealing the win and Sudan’s fourth CHAN qualification.

Ethiopia’s spirited effort fell short as the Walya Antelopes failed to overturn their first-leg deficit.

Sudan’s consistency throughout the qualifiers was evident, as they maintained control over both legs to secure back-to-back CHAN appearances.

Sudan now looks ahead to February’s tournament, co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, where they hope to make a significant impact.

As the qualifiers continue, nine additional teams are set to be decided on Saturday.

Key fixtures include Burkina Faso’s bid to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon’s attempt to maintain their slim advantage over the Central African Republic.

The final four spots for the CHAN 2024 tournament will be determined on Sunday. Mali is looking to recover from a 1-0 loss in their first-leg clash against Mauritania.

The eagerly anticipated tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from February 1 to 28, 2025.

The CHAN tournament, exclusive to players competing in domestic leagues, showcases local talent on a continental stage.

-CAF

For the seventh time, Nigeria will confront their regional rivals, Ghana in the African Nations Championship on Saturday.

The only time both teams met at the final championship in 2014, Ghana won on penalties at the semi-final clash.

When Nigeria played a goalless draw with Ghana last Sunday in Accra, it was the first time they avoided a defeat in Ghana.

They now carry the advantage to this Saturday’s potentially epic clash in Uyo.

Stand-in Head Coach Daniel Ogunmodede said that the big focus of the Super Eagles B players and officials is to attain victory that will spring Nigeria to the finals of the competition early next year.

“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 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 from February 1st to 28th, 2025.

Nigeria defended stoutly at the Accra Sports Stadium while relying on counter-attacks. Still, it 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 35^th 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.

The Confederation of African Football has selected Moroccan official Hamza El Fariq as referee for the match, with his compatriots Abdessamad Abertoune, Zakaria Bouchtaoui and Hicham Temsamani to serve as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.

Prince Kai Saquee from Sierra Leone will be the commissioner while Miboti Moise from the Democratic Republic of Congo will be in the role of referee assessor.

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