Soccer
Nigeria’s CHAN Eagles have been handed a stern warning ahead of their crucial African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers against Ghana, following the Black Galaxies’ commanding performances in their final warmup matches, Soccernet.ng reports.
Ghana showed their attacking and defensive brilliance in back-to-back victories on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at the GFA Technical Centre.
Mas-Ud Dramani’s side edged Nania FC 1-0 before routing Northern City 5-0, tallying six goals without conceding.
These results underline Ghana’s readiness for the much-anticipated two-legged encounter against Nigeria.
The first leg will take place in Ghana between December 20-22, with the return fixture scheduled for December 27-29 in Nigeria.
The stakes are high, as the winner will secure a place in the CHAN 2024 tournament, set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Ghana’s Black Galaxies will draw confidence from their recent dominance, but also from history, having eliminated Nigeria in the previous CHAN qualifying campaign.
That encounter ended in a 2-2 aggregate draw before Ghana triumphed in a post-match penalty shootout to claim their ticket to Algeria 2022.
Nigeria, however, are also in intensive preparations.
Interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen has invited 30 players to the Eagles’ camp, including 44-year-old Kano Pillars legend Rabiu Ali, for the final phase of training.
Nigeria’s home-based Eagles have never won the CHAN tounrmanet, reaching the final only once in 2018 before losing 4-0 to hosts Morocco.
Senegal are the current champions, as the Lions edged hosts Algeria on penalties in the final of the 2022 edition. Tanzania and Uganda will co-host the 2024 CHAN tournament.
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