By Patrick Akoto
Ghana Under-20 coach Orlando Wellington
Ghana Under-20 head coach Orlando Wellington says he is prepared for a showdown with Nigeria in their Group B opener at the African Youth Championship next Monday.
Flying Eagles Stephane Okoro began the battle of words by claiming they are not afraid of the defending champions ahead of their clash on 18 April.
The West African neigbours share eight titles among them with Nigeria hauling five and Ghana winning thier third silverware at the 2009 edition in Rwanda.
Ghana beat second-tier side Oserian FC 2-0 on Tuesday in a final brush up in Kenya with goals from strikers Kwame Amponsah-Karikari and Richmond Boakye Yiadom.
“If they say they’re not afraid of us, we’re equally not afraid of them. We’re the defending champions and therefore if they want to win the Cup, they must get past us first,” Wellington told Peace FM.
“We are seriously aware of the expectations of Ghanaian on the team and we’re hopeful we can live up to the bar.”
The team will also play Cameroon and Gambia in pool B with the top two sides qualifying to the Fifa World Cup in Colombia.
