Head coach of the Black Galaxies, Mas Ud Didi Dramani has indicated that there are positives his team can learn when they face Togo in a friendly at the Stade de Kégué on Wednesday, Futbalgalore.com.ng reports.
The Ghanaian CHAN will face their Togolese counterparts in a tune up match on Wednesday.
This encounter is crucial for their preparations ahead of the 2024 CHAN qualifiers against Nigeria, scheduled for later this month.
Speaking in an interview with GFA Media and monitored by Futbalgalore.com.ng, Mas Ud Didi Dramani shed light on his team’s preparations so far.
“We have played about 11 medium profile games against first division clubs in Ghana,” Mas Ud Didi Dramani began.
“We are using this final rehearsal to give us the experience. This match is good for some of these boys. It is the best for their progression. We have done well to share minutes to some of these boys.
“The game gives us the opportunity to iron out the rough edges. The match against Togo CHAN team will give the boys experience and exposure. The game should bring out something unique and we are looking forward to it. We want players who can stay within our principles.”
The former Right To Dream Academy Manager concluded: “I expect the team’s cohesion and bonding against Togo. Ghanaians have always supported us. We want to show our domestic brand and we are repositioning Ghana football with the CHAN team.”
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2009, 2011, 2021 and 2023 finals of the competition exclusively reserved for players plying their trade in the domestic Leagues of their countries and possessing permanent contracts. However, appearances in 2014 (in South Africa) and 2018 (in Morocco) saw the Super Eagles mount the podium, with bronze medals in the former and silver medals in the latter. The 2016 campaign in Rwanda ended at the group stage.
Coaches Daniel Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ikechukwu have been working over-time with the players as the countdown begins to the first leg, scheduled for the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, 22nd December.
In two of the four previous times that the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the competition popularly called CHAN, Ghana was the bogey team. In the qualifiers for the inaugural edition in Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria took a 2-0 first half lead in Accra, only to eventually lose the match 2-3. The return at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar ended scoreless.
In the qualifiers for the last edition hosted by Algeria, Ghana won 2-0 at home and lost by the same margin in Abuja, only to snatch the ticket after a penalty shootout.
Togo ensured Nigeria’s absence from the 2021 finals, with the Hawks gaining a 4-1 win in Togo. A 2-0 win in Lagos by Nigeria was not enough to overturn the advantage.
Apart from the intense rivalry with Ghana on the field of play, the Super Eagles B see this month’s qualifying fixture as an opportunity to regain their pride of place in the hearts of Nigerian ball fans, having missed two consecutive editions of the CHAN.
