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Black Stars of Ghana coach, Otto Addo has boasted that his side remain strong, despite a goalless draw with Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Friday, as he believes they will spring a surprise during the reverse fixture this Tuesday in Abuja, megasportsarena.com reports.
Speaking in the wake of Friday’s barren end at Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana, Addo admitted he did not get the result he planned for, but stressed that The Black Stars still have what it takes to eke out the Qatar 2022 World Cup ticket ahead of Nigeria.
While Eagles’ interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen was full of praises for his wards’ efforts in the game, the Ghanaian coach insisted that his side were not outplayed and reckoned that they are both evenly matched for the second leg.
While hinting at his gameplan ahead of Tuesday’s reverse fixture, which he believes the visitors will win, Addo opined that pressure has now shifted from his side to the Eagles, who now have to win the decisive game in Abuja.
He based his verdict on three factors that could work against Nigeria, being overconfidence, fans’ expectations and defensive lapses, some of which he said were spotted by him on Friday.
Addo, who was in charge of Ghana’s team for the first time, stressed that Friday’s result does not change anything in the play-offs tie, adding: “The Nigerians saw that we can play as well.
“They were not here or there. We wanted to win and when we go to Nigeria, we want to win as well.
“They have high quality players but it was equal. The pressure will be on them also because away goal can hurt a lot.”
On the other hand, Eguavoen congratulated his wards after a disciplined performance earned them a creditable 0-0 draw against Ghana’s Black Stars in Kumasi on Friday.
The former Eagles’ defender, captain and head coach added that the Black Stars gave his side a good fight, but declared that he had always been confident of getting a good result.
Eguavoen concluded: “For our boys, I say congratulations because they were able to soak up the pressure and take control of the game in the second half.
“We have always been very, very confident. I said we will come out here, work hard and make sure we get something out of the game.
“That was our game plan. The Ghana team are not a team you can brush away with one arm.
“I follow Ghana football throughout my career and the performance they put out today was expected.
“Again, you know, Ghana didn’t have any clear cut chances but we had two clear cut chances and that should have been a win but a draw, we’re very okay with it.”
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