Ogunmodede Targets Victory Against Ghana To Qualify Nigeria For CHAN
2 years ago 2 min read
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Home-based Super Eagles coach, Daniel Ogunmodede has revealed that the team is only focused on beating Ghana to qualify for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The first leg of the encounter ended goalless in Accra on Sunday with the second leg set to take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday.
Ogunmodede reiterated that the team’s target is to qualify for the competition ahead of Ghana after missing out on the last edition to the Black Galaxies.
He said: “We are doing everything to stay focused by avoiding any distractions. 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 eighth edition of the competition reserved for footballers plying their trade in their nation’s domestic Leagues will take place across Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, 1st – 28th February 2025.
Ghana have dominated the African Nations Championship clashes between both nations, with the Eagles winning only one of six previous clashes. Three have resulted in scoreless draws. Ghana won 3-2 in Accra in 2008 and also 2-0 in Accra in 2022.
The 0-0 draw in Calabar in 2008 meant Ghana sailed through to the inaugural CHAN finals in Cote d’Ivoire on the strength of their 3-2 win in Accra two weeks earlier, and when their semi-final clash in the third edition of the final tournament in South Africa in 2014 ended 0-0, the Galaxies prevailed 4-1 after a penalty shootout.
Ogunmodede’s charges have earned Nigeria’s best result against Ghana in the African Nations Championship on away ground, and look poised to gain victory in Uyo on Saturday.
Meanwhile, The Confederation of African Football has selected Moroccan official Hamza El Fariq as referee for the match, with his compatriots Abdessamad Abertoune, Zakaria Bouchtaoui and Hicham Temsamani to serve as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.
Prince Kai Saquee from Sierra Leone will be the commissioner while Miboti Moise from the Democratic Republic of Congo will be in the role of referee assessor.
