Nothing ‘friendly’ about Nigeria vs Ghana match says Finidi
Ahead of Super Eagles international friendly against Black Stars of Ghana tomorrow in Marrakech, Morocco, Coach Finidi George says his target and that of the team is to earn a good result. That the Eagles finished second best at the recently concluded 34th AFCON in Cote d Ivoire according to him is an indication that the team occupies a enviable position and everything must be done to maintain that level. Finidi who is also current coach of two time CAF Champions league champions Enyimba, bared his mind in a chat with thenff.com as the minutes tick gradually towards the D-Day in Marrakech.
“We finished in second place at the Africa Cup of Nations and everyone expects us to maintain that high rating and be even better in a short while. Our objective is to get good results in these two matches and stay positive ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
READ ALSOOsimhen, Ebuehi out of Super Eagles friendlies vs Ghana,Mali
The former international who was immediate assistant Jose Peseiro who resigned his appointement recently underscored the importance of playing against our West African neighbours Ghana, insisting that no match can really be considered friendly judging from the rivalry between the countries.
“They call it friendly matches but there is really nothing friendly when you play, especially Ghana. I have been involved in matches against Ghana since the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal. Matches between our countries are serious duels and always seen as battles by our peoples. The Black Stars did not perform that well at the recent Africa Cup of Nations and they will be keen to banish that memory.”
Finidi George won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals, and won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments. His first AFCON encounter against Ghana was on 23rd January 1992, in a semi-final encounter that the Black Stars won 2-1.
Super Eagles caretake coach watching keenly as Eagles train ahead Black Stars clash Friday.
Afterwards, the pacy winger was involved when both teams played out a barren draw in a friendly in Lagos in March 1994; a 0-0 draw in Accra in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier; a 3-0 win for Nigeria in Port Harcourt that sent Nigeria through to Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup and; a 1-0 win for Nigeria in an AFCON quarter-final match in Bamako in 2002.
“We will be missing four players who have pulled out due to injury but I have confidence in the team that we have here that they will wear the green-white-green with pride and with patriotic fervour.”
Ghana will also be led by a renowned former international, Otto Addo, who has just been recalled for a second stint in charge of the Black Stars.
READ ALSO Nike unveils Super Eagles home and away kits, to cost N249,000
Friday’s match will be the 60th encounter between both countries, since a Jalco Cup match on 20th October 1951 ended 5-0 in favour of Nigeria. Twenty of the previous 59 duels have ended in draws, including their last two encounters (2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches) in March 2022.
Their last friendly match, in London on 11th October 2011, ended scoreless.