During the World Cup playoffs draw for Africa held by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Saturday, Ghana was paired against fellow West Africans, Nigeria to face off in a battle for one of Africa’s five tickets for the 2022 World Cup Finals in Qatar.
The West African rivals will play a home and away pair of games in a crunch encounter to fight for a place in the World Cup finals. The draw for the World Cup playoffs held in Douala last Saturday shows, that Ghana, the lower ranked side will host Nigeria in the first leg, and travel to Nigeria for the return encounter all in March this year.
The Black Stars pulled up an agonizing performance in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon, losing two of the three group stage games and drawing one. Ghana crashed out of the tournament at the group stage with just one point in three matches, setting a new record as their worst ever campaign in their 23 times appearances at the AFCON.
Nigeria on the other hand, flattered to deceive with a promising performance at the group stage, only to be eliminated by Tunisia in the Round of 16 after losing 1-0 to the Carthage Eagles on Sunday.
In an exclusive interview with ghanasportspage.com on Monday, former Nigeria international, Abdul Sule, now a football agent and player scout has drawn comparisons between Ghana and Nigeria, placing the Super Eagles above the dwindling Black Stars as the two West African giants face each other in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final playoffs.
“Honestly no sentiments, but if I look at Ghana, the team, if it were many years ago I will be shaking, but with what Ghana is doing now, I don’t think we are afraid of Ghana”, Sule stated.
In a jovial voice backed by firm intent, Abdul Sule stated categorically clear that the Nigeria will put the Ghana to bed with ease.
“I think we are going to beat Ghana. We are going to beat Ghana hands down”, he said with loads of confidence.
Comparing the two sides, the 47-year older former Super Eagles striker rated Nigeria above Ghana and he hopes the current players of the Nigerian team do not leave him disappointed in the end.
“Honestly, to be serious about it I think Nigeria have a good team, and if we are going to play with the Ghana (team) that just went out of the AFCON then we are going to beat them, and I hope Nigeria will do that because we have a good team now”, Sule stressed.
To give a bit chance to the Black Stars, Abdul Sule wondered whether Ghana intends to improve the team with new faces in the squad and the technical team. To him, that may be the only way Ghana can probably prove threatening to Nigeria.
“I don’t know if Ghana are going home to prepare again for another players or coaches, but for now I think we have a better team than Ghana, if I’m not mistaking”, he concluded.
Abdul Sule played for the Super Green Eagles of Nigeria between 1990 and 1993 as a striker. He played in the Afrca Cup of Nations qualifiers and other playoffs, as well as the World Cup qualifiers for Nigeria.
He however couldn’t break into the team for the AFCON tournament proper nor the World Cup finals.
Credit:Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images-Stanbic (featured image)
