Adekunle Salami
After playing out a goalless draw in the first leg of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup last week, Ghana and Nigeria will again file out for the decisive battle today at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja.
The Black Stars were able to hold the star-studded Nigerian team at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi but a winner must emerge today with a ticket to the Mundial at stake.
Interim manager, Austin Eguavoen must find the right balance in the middle to create chances for Victor Osimhen upfront while the players must be more clinical to get the goals.
Eagles will also have to be disciplined at the back to avoid away goals which is crucial today. A score draw will be good enough for Ghana while Nigeria must record an outright win to win the ticket.
Meanwhile, in a move to fill up the stands of the Stadium and guarantee high-decibel support for the Super Eagles, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Nigeria Football Federation have jointly purchased 20,000 tickets to give to fans who wish to support the Eagles on the day.
Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare, announced this on Sunday evening, after a meeting of the organizing committee put in place by the Ministry and which include officials of the NFF.
“We will buy 20,000 of the tickets and give to fans at designated centres on Monday and Tuesday morning. We want to ensure maximum support for the Super Eagles by filling up the stands.
“The NFF have done well to secure maximum capacity of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium for the match. This move will guarantee us a full house, if you also consider the efforts that the ticket rights holder, Africa Independent Television have been making on their own,” said Dare.
NFF 2nd Vice President, Shehu Dikko added that both the Ministry and the NFF believe that the full house will ginger the Super Eagles to earn a 7th FIFA World Cup finals ticket on Tuesday.
