GhanaFA

Anticipation rises ahead of showdown

17 years ago
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As the minutes tick, the eyes of the sporting world is closely waiting for the year’s first international assignment for Ghana as Africa’s biggest rivalry comes off at Brentford’s Griffin park grounds.

There might be several games going on in the English capital, London, but the action really starts Tuesday evening with Ghana and Nigeria lining up not for an African Cup of Nations game but a friendly fixture.

Ghana, four-time African Champions are seeking a morale boosting victory over Nigeria to end the fifteen-year unbeaten run of their rivals.

The last time Ghana beat Nigeria was in 1992 at the African Cup of Nations hosted by Senegal

The Ghana camp, Monday evening enjoyed a good training session at the Hampton grounds which lasted for about an hour. Three players – Isaac Boakye, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Ibrahim Salou were absent from training.

The friendly with the Super Eagles forms part of Ghana’s build up towards the African Cup of Nations next year.

The last of the sides meeting came in January 2006 at the African Cup of Nations in Egypt in a group game that the Nigerians won by a lone goal.

Ghana, by virtue of being host of the 2008 African Cup of Nations finals would not be playing any competitive match until January 2008, when the tournament kicks off in Accra.

The game with Nigeria would be the first match against an African opposition for Claude Le Roy who goes into his fourth game as Ghana coach.

Ghana undefeated in four international matches since her round of 16 exit at last year’s World Cup would be making a third appearance in Brentford after playing Senegal and Togo at the same venue last year.

The match in London is one of the several matches involving a host of countries to be played on Tuesday and Wednesday.