The Nigerian and Ghanaian national teams have put their Christmas celebrations on hold as they intensify their preparations for the second leg of their Africa Nations Championship qualifier.
The Super Eagles B and the Black Galaxies played out a goalless draw in the first leg in Accra last Sunday, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter in Uyo on Saturday.
Despite it being Christmas Day, both teams continued their training sessions, with the Nigerian squad having their second session with 23 players at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Stand-in head coach Daniel Ogunmodede emphasized the importance of qualifying for the tournament, stating, “History is not very good with us, and we have decided not to pay attention to what history has done to us. We are focusing on the present and the future, and we know how important qualifying is for us and the country as well.”
The Nigerian team has been bolstered by the arrival of five new players, including Kwara United goalkeeper Badmus Gbadamosi, Rangers midfielder Kazeem Ogunleye, and attackers Megwo Sunday, Samuel Ayanrinde, and Temitope Vincent.
To advance to the tournament, Nigeria must beat Ghana in open play during the second leg. A score draw would give Ghana the edge, while another goalless draw would send the game into extra time and potentially penalty shootouts.
The home-based Eagles are seeking to reach the CHAN tournament for the first time in six years, and a win over Ghana would be a significant step towards achieving that goal.
