Stand-in Head Coach Daniel Ogunmodede has emphasized that the primary objective of the Super Eagles B players and officials ahead of Saturday’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying match against Ghana’s Black Galaxies is to secure a victory that will send Nigeria to the final tournament in East Africa next year.
Both teams played to a goalless draw in Accra on Sunday, leaving the final qualifier delicately poised as they head into the decisive fixture at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday.
“We are doing everything to stay focused by avoiding any distractions,” Ogunmodede said in a statement on Thursday. “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 coming up in East Africa.”
The competition, which is exclusively for players competing in their domestic leagues, will be held from February 1 to 28, 2025, across Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.
After their resilient defensive performance in Accra, the Super Eagles B will need to be more attacking from the start at home to seal their place in the tournament.
This fixture holds added significance due to the bitter regional rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana. Ghana’s failure to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations has heightened the stakes, as the Black Galaxies aim to avoid another disappointment and secure their place in the CHAN finals.
Historically, Ghana has had the upper hand in their encounters with Nigeria in the African Nations Championship, with the Super Eagles B winning only one of their six previous meetings.
Three of those matches have ended in goalless draws. Ghana won 3-2 in Accra in 2008 and 2-0 in Accra in 2022. Their dominance continued even in drawn encounters, such as the 0-0 draw in Calabar in 2008, which saw Ghana advance to the inaugural CHAN finals.
Despite this, Ogunmodede’s side has shown resilience, and with their strong defensive display in the first leg, they now have a strong chance to break their winless streak against Ghana in the tournament.
