Nigeria defender Troost Ekong, says the Black Stars have no hope of beating Nigeria because Ghana’s strikers are unable to find the net.
Ghana play Nigeria in Abuja in the final leg of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. The first leg ended in a goalless draw in Kumasi on March 25, and just three days later, hostilities will be rekindled and on this occasion, a winner must be produced.
Despite Ghana having the slightest of advantages with the away goal rule, Ekong believes the Black Stars are incapable of utilizing it to their advantage. Ghana scored a meagre three goals in three games at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and Ghana’s most experienced forward available, Jordan Ayew is on a detestable dry patch.
The Black Stars have entertaining talents in players like Roma’s Afena-Gyan and Fatawu Issahaku but both are largely inexperienced on the international stage and yet to get going. Afena-Gyan made his national team debut just recently in the first leg of the tie.
Ekong believes this will play to the advantage of the Super Eagles, who are spoilt for choice and experience. Head coach Augustine Eguavoen, called-up nine forwards for this play-off.
“All the fans waiting for us in Nigeria, will give us a boost to get the result we want. Some of the guys coming in Dennis, Ighalo these are all players that are known to score goals, I’ll back them and I think they’ll even feel more challenge to score and I assure everybody they can do that.
“On the other half we have only conceded one goal in five games, so maybe that’s where our strength lies as well. And of course, the boys [Nigerian strikers] scored in the AFCON, I’m not worried at all, I see them in training everyday. I’ve seen what they’ve done in the Nigerian jersey, I think the statistics are in our favour, if they[Ghana] haven’t scored in a long time they probably can’t score in the Abuja game,” Ekong said to the press.
The Black Stars need any score draw to book their ticket to Qatar later this year. FIFA have approved for the 60,000 seater Moshood Abiola stadium to admit to its full capacity for the tie.
Meanwhile Ghana’s High Commission in Nigeria have acquired 1,800 tickets for Ghanaian nationals in Nigeria willing to go to the stadium.
Source: Ghana News
