Ghana vs. Nigeria: Black Stars must play above themselves to qualify for World Cup – Sammy Awuku

Director-General of the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) Sammy Awuku believes the Black Stars must play above themselves if they really want to secure qualification to the World Cup at the expense of Nigeria.

Ghana will play a two-legged encounter against Nigeria this month with the winner securing one of the five slots on the African continent.

The Black Stars will host Nigeria on March 25, 2022 before traveling to Abuja for the reverse fixture on March 29, 2022.

In an interview, the Ghanaian politicians  said, “Ghana against Nigeria is not a small. If you look at the Nigerians physical play and discipline on the field of play at AFCON 2021 and you compare it to our Black Stars, it’s a mismatch but Ghana, Nigeria matches are not always about form, sometimes it is about so many factors”

“Ghana and Nigeria matches is like Hearts of Oak and Kotoko, it is not always about form, a lot of things goes into such games but I don’t want to be specific but I believe the Black Stars will have to play above themselves if they really want to qualify for the World Cup”

“Looking at the teams that played at the AFCON, we are being patriotic but I don’t think you will invest in the Black Stars at the tournament considering their performance. We have teams like Comoros with low population who even needed Ghana to be consultors for them but they outplayed and scored us as if we are debutants” he said.