CHAN qualifier: Ogunmodede upbeat ahead Ghana return leg

Stand-in Super Eagles B coach Daniel Ogunmodede is optimistic that the home-based stars will seal the ticket to the 2024 Africa Nations Championship after playing a goalless draw against Ghana in the first leg of the final qualifying match on Sunday, The PUNCH reports.

The eighth CHAN tournament will be hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, from February 1-28, 2025 and the race between Nigeria and Ghana is still delicately poised following the first-leg encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Nigeria will host the second leg of the encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday and Ogunmodede believes the Super Eagles B will take advantage of the tie.

“This is Nigeria we are talking about. We know how important it is for our local players, our league and the federation. We know how important this is for young players and coaches. It is important to know that we are trying to go one step ahead of what we were last year and there must be something to show for it,” Ogunmodede said after the match.

“Qualifying will add more value to our league and even the credibility of our players abroad. We want to prove a point and complement the efforts of the administrators.”

Captain of the side and Remo Stars defender, Junior Nduka also echoed the coach’s sentiments.

“The future lies in our hands, we need to qualify. We will come out in full force and we know we have to defend as well. We know what is at stake so there is no compromise for us,” the defender said.

To advance to the tournament, Nigeria must beat Ghana in open play during the second leg. They must avoid a score draw to give the Ghanaians the edge while another goalless draw will send the game into extra time and potentially penalty shootouts.

The home-based Eagles under the guidance of stand-in head coach Daniel Ogunmodede and his Rangers International counterpart Fidelis Ilechukwu, have the task of reaching the CHAN tournament for the first time in six years.

The team returned to Nigeria on Monday and will continue their preparations in Uyo.

Nigeria has never won the tournament, having finished third at the 2014 edition in South Africa before losing the final against hosts Morocco four years later.

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