Nigeria’s Tremendous Eagles B crew will face Ghana’s Black Galaxies in a high-stakes conflict for a spot on the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), set to be co-hosted by Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya subsequent yr.
This encounter revives the extraordinary rivalry between the 2 West African soccer powerhouses.
Tremendous Eagles B preparation and build-up
The Tremendous Eagles B crew arrived in Accra on Friday, December 20, forward of the primary leg on Sunday, December 22.
The squad has undergone rigorous preparations, together with two separate coaching camps and a last three-week session in Ikenne on the Remo Stars Advanced.
Coaches Daniel Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ilechukwu led the crew throughout this section, with Austin Eguavoen absent because of medical remedy in Belgium.
The crew’s preparations included six pleasant matches designed to check their readiness and refine their methods.
They started with a slim 1-0 victory over Grassrunners FC, earlier than reeling off 5 objectives in every of their subsequent three friendlies.
Nonetheless, Seamoriow Soccer Membership offered a sterner take a look at, however Nigeria edged them out in an exhilarating 3-2 encounter.
Lastly, the Tremendous Eagles B wrapped up their preparation with a 2-1 victory over Remo Stars.
In complete, for the ultimate section of tenting, the crew scored 21 objectives and conceded 4 objectives as they search to realize revenge over Ghana.
Historic context: Nigeria vs Ghana in CHAN qualifiers
Ghana has constantly been a thorn in Nigeria’s CHAN aspirations. The Black Galaxies thwarted Nigeria’s makes an attempt to qualify for the match in 2009 and 2023.
Within the inaugural version’s qualifiers, Nigeria squandered a 2-0 first-half lead in Accra, finally dropping 3-2.
The return leg in Calabar ended goalless, sealing Ghana’s development.
In 2023, Nigeria’s marketing campaign led to heartbreak.
After a 2-0 dwelling win in Abuja to stage the tie on combination, the Tremendous Eagles B misplaced 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out on the Moshood Abiola Nationwide Stadium.
This time, Nigeria seeks to rewrite historical past and safe a ticket to CHAN 2025.
The primary leg in Accra precedes the return fixture on the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, on Saturday, December 28.
The eighth version of CHAN, solely for gamers in home leagues with customary contracts, kicks off in February 2025.
Nigeria goals to make a powerful impression after lacking the earlier match.
Possible starters for Nigeria
Nigeria possible starters: Ozoemena; Sodiq, Collins, Onyebuchi, Ojetoye, Fatokun, Ali, Isaac, Alimi, Abubakar
Full squad listing
Goalkeepers: Henry Ozoemena (Enyimba FC), Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)Defenders: Ismail Sodiq (Remo Stars), Waliu Ojetoye (Ikorodu Metropolis), Imo Obot (Enyimba FC), Junior Nduka (Remo Stars), Victor Collins (Nasarawa United), Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers Worldwide), Steven Manyo (Rivers United)Midfielders: Jide Fatokun (Remo Stars), Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars), Saviour Isaac (Rangers Worldwide), Musa Zayyad (El-Kanemi Warriors)Forwards: Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United), Adamu Abubakar (Plateau United), Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars), Emmanuel Ogbole (Kwara United), Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
