Black Galaxies head coach, Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, says his team is concentrating on their preparations rather than the rivalry with Nigeria ahead of their African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying clash.
The two teams will battle for a spot in next year’s CHAN tournament, which will be held across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Ghana will host Nigeria for the first leg of the playoffs at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, December 22, before travelling to Nigeria for the return leg at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Saturday, December 28.
Despite the fierce rivalry between the nations, Dramani emphasized that his focus remains on his team’s development, not the historical tension between the countries.
“We focus on the team rather than the rivalry. While we respect the history, we are more concerned with our technical, tactical, and psychological preparation,” he told CAFOnline.
He also highlighted the importance of managing pressure and encouraging players to emphasize teamwork over individual achievements.
“The players are reminded to channel the pressure positively, emphasizing collective performance over individual efforts.
“We remind the players that this is their moment to write history. The rivalry is a backdrop, but the focus remains on executing our game plan. We emphasize professionalism and staying composed under pressure,” he added.
This marks the second consecutive year that the Black Galaxies will face Nigeria in the playoffs.
In the previous edition, Ghana triumphed over Nigeria on penalties to secure a place in the tournament, though they were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
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