12 May 2011
Ghana coach, David Duncan, has predicted a tough derby against Nigeria when both teams clash in Thursday’s WAFU Nations Cup semi-final at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
Ghana finished behind Togo in Group B. Togo shaded a rematch 4-3 on penalties after winning 2-1 in regulation time in this two-team group. Ghana won the first game 2-1 and so the winners of Group B had to be decided through a penalty shootout.
Togo will therefore face Group B runners-up Liberia in the other semi-final, also on Thursday.
“Against Nigeria, it could be anybody’s game. It will be a tough encounter as it is a derby,” said Ghana coach Duncan.
“Playing against Nigeria would be a completely different game. When you take the game against a brother like Nigeria, with the whole of the country behind them and who are going to act as the 12th man on the pitch that day, you won’t expect anything less.”
Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, said he looks forward to an interesting clash.
“Nigeria, Ghana and even Togo are neighbours and we know ourselves very well in football. So, playing Ghana won’t be easy but I have told my boys to relax and play to instructions, which would definitely give us an edge,” said Siasia.
“We can’t come this far and relinquish our ambition to retain this trophy. Now that we have got more time to train, I believe my team would give their best against Ghana. It should be an interesting match.”
The final and third-placed match will be played on Saturday.
Nigeria are defending champions of the revamped annual sub-regional tournament after they defeated Senegal 2-0 in last year’s final.
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Nigeria/Ghana: Ghana Coach Wary of Super Eagles