West African juggernauts Nigeria and Ghana will make the grass suffer more than a little bit when they clash in the final of the sub –regional WAFU Cup of Nations at the Cape Coast on Sunday evening.
The Black Stars edged Niger Republic in the second semi final on Thursday to set up a date with the high –flying Super Eagles, who confined the hosts to a 2-0 defeat in a group phase encounter on Monday.
According to the schedule of the final day of competition released by the West African Football Union on Friday, the Squirrels of Benin Republic and the Mena of Niger Republic will be at each other’s jugular for the bronze medal as from 2pm (3pm Nigeria time).
The closing ceremony is set to take the centre –stage between 4.35 p.m. and 5 p.m. The final match that will see two teams with seven African titles between them locking horns at 6pm Ghana time (7pm Nigeria time) Nigeria’s Eagles, who are using the tournament to prepare for next year’s 5th African Nations Championship, have taken it somewhat easy here.
The Eagles put up the effort needed to see off Sierra Leone in the first knock–out round, and then eased to 0-0 draws with Mali and Guinea. When it mattered, they pulled out the stops to turn back hosts Ghana 2-0 to reach the semi finals.
On Thursday,the Eagles then pipped CHAN qualifying victims Benin Republic by an odd goal to set up Sunday’s clash with the Black Stars.
The Black Stars therefore will throw everything into this encounter to have sweet memories in the meantime. Nigeria’s Head Coach, Salisu Yusuf, is not perturbed: “We know what they will be up to and what they will be ready to give to take the trophy.
“We are more than ready to confront them and give them more than they expect.
“The Super Eagles have become used to winning, from winning the CHAN ticket to conquering Sierra Leone and even Ghana here to reach the final, and we cannot stop now. “We want that winning mentality to remain all the way to the CHAN finals early next year,” he said. (NAN)
