Head coach of Ghana’s home based senior national team, Mas Ud Didi Dramani, has expressed confidence ahead of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers against Nigeria.
The Black Galaxies will host their rivals in the first leg at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, December 22 with the return leg set for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo in Nigeria a week later.
Despite the rivalry between the two countries, Didi Dramani says he is focused on his team and not the rivalry that exists between the countries.
"We focus on the team rather than the rivalry. While we respect the history, we are more concerned with our technical, tactical, and psychological preparation," he said.
"The players are reminded to channel the pressure positively, emphasizing collective performance over individual efforts. We remind the players that this is their moment to write history. The rivalry is a backdrop, but the focus remains on executing our game plan. We emphasize professionalism and staying composed under pressure," he added.
Head coach of Nigeria side, Daniel Ogunmodede, believes his charges will be ready to surmount the daunting task against their rivals.
"Considering the critical nature of this upcoming two-legged tie against Ghana, we have been working diligently and passionately in our preparation," he said.
"We are focused on honing our strengths, addressing weaknesses, and strategizing specific tactics tailored to face Ghana's formidable team. The players have shown great commitment and dedication during training sessions, and we’re confident we are well-equipped to face the challenge head-on," he added.
This will be the second straight year that the Black Galaxies face Nigeria in the playoff round.
Ghana previously beat Nigeria on penalties two years ago to secure a spot in the last edition of the CHAN tournament before suffering a quarterfinal elimination to Niger at the tournament hosted by Algeria.
The winner of the two legs will qualify for the main tournament that will be staged in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania next year.
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