Nigeria take on Ghana in what is being dubbed as a friendly fixture today, but there will be a lot of pride on the line for both the Super Eagles and the Black Stars as they play their first fixture since losing the AFCON final to Ivory Coast.
The home side are starting a new era under different management, with Jose Peseiro vacating his position as coach after leading the team so close to continental glory. Super Eagles legend Finidi George takes charge for the game as the country looks to rediscover the feel-good factor surrounding the national team.
We spoke to Bet9ja Ambassador Victor Ikpeba for his thoughts ahead of the match.
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It’s the start of a new era for The Super Eagles
Despite falling short at the final hurdle in AFCON this year, I think that it showed a lot of the public that the players that we have in this country are more than capable of making up a dangerous national team that can cause anyone problems going forward. There are players all over Europe who are doing well right at the top level of the game.
Peseiro wasn’t necessarily everyone’s favourite manager but he brought some key players through that we can build with going forward. Finidi George is boss on an interim basis at the moment, so there’s a good opportunity in this match to try something new, especially with some of the usual starters missing.
However – this is still a match to be taken seriously. Like Finidi said: “They call them friendly matches, but there is really nothing friendly when you play, especially Ghana.”
Victor Osimhen’s future
Osimhen is our talisman and most important player so it is obviously a blow to have him missing, but at the same time it might help him to take this international break off as he is playing in a Napoli side struggling for form.
I do wonder if his head has been turned by all the transfer rumours surrounding him – it cannot be easy to play in an underperforming side and be constantly on the back page of every newspaper, but he is currently trying his best to drag his team up the table.
Victor’s Prediction – Nigeria 2-1 Ghana
BOOKING CODE: 6D9QYYM
