Nigeria’s U-23 team, the ‘Dream Team’ will today, in Kumasi, take on Ghana in the second leg of the all African games qualifier. The ‘Dream Team’ has a two-goal advantage heading into this encounter, as they won the first leg 3-1 in Benin and will be hoping to protect their lead in this encounter. The ‘Black Queens’ had prevented the Falcons in the All African Games qualifier and their male counterparts will be hoping to do same.
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The match was supposed to hold yesterday but was shifted to today by the Ghanaian officials and the match was shifted from Accra to Kumasi, in moves considered as under-hand tactics by the Ghanaian officials. but coach Austin Eguavoen has said, “It does not matter where they are taking us to play. Victory, for us, is the ultimate target and now is the time for us to show the winning spirit, because this is the week where all our efforts since the beginning of this camp would be put to test”. Goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye has been ruled out of this clash due to a shoulder injury he suffered in the first leg. Obiora Nwankwo and Ahmed Musa are also out, due to their club’s commitment.
Meanwhile, Olympique Marseille ace Andre Ayew has backed the ‘Black Meteors’ of Ghana to beat Nigeria to qualify for the All Africa Games in Mozambique.
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The 21-year-old was hoping to play a part in today’s game at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi after missing the first leg, but has been ruled out again due to club commitments.
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However, the 2009 World Youth championship-winner believes his colleagues have all it takes to stop the Nigerians.
“They should take it easy, and we have the quality,” Ayew said. “I know they are a better side than Nigeria.
“Now the team is playing at home and I have every confidence in the team to deliver. They will win for sure, but now it’s going to be the scores and if we have a bit of luck we can beat them by two or three goals,” Ayew added.
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The ‘Dream team’ will have to defend their two-goal lead in Ghana and take their chance when it comes. Nosa Igiebor, who scored a brace in the first leg with Ehiosun have to take their chance when it comes.Lately, in the all Africa games and Olympic qualifiers, the ‘Dream Team’ has played some tough away games in Liberia, Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, and have showed they can hold their own in away games. Ex-Eagles winger Tijani Babangida speaking to complete sports recently said, “I know that Ghana is always difficult each time we are playing them, but this time around, we are at an advantage and if we don’t joke with our opportunity, we should not have any problem beating them. We have good players in the team and a quality coach as well, but they should make sure that they do not underrate them, because Ghana can be very dangerous,” the former Ajax Amsterdam star said.
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“From what I have seen in the team, I am happy that they have quality attackers that can go all the way and win the game, the tactics the coach also instructs the players to play will also come to bear in the game. But I don’t see us having any problem in the match.”
The game kicks off at 4p.m Nigerian time in Kumasi’s Baba Yara Sports Complex and the winner will qualify for the football event of the All Africa Games coming up in Maputo, Mozambique in September this year.
