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| Ghana Match More Than Friendly - Kanu |
1/31/2007 |
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NIGERIA skipper Nwankwo Kanu insists that Tuesday''s international friendly encounter between Nigeria and Ghana in London is more than the tag suggests. Radio B.A.R in Sunyani reports.
The 30-year old said: "A game between Nigeria and Ghana, any day, is always contentious, competitive. Yes, there is no Cup at stake. But as a result of the rivalry between the two teams, we will take it serious.
"Nigeria are number one in Africa by the Fifa ranking but some of my Ghanaian friends have been saying the ranking is no true reflection of form and that they are the best team in Africa, forgeting that we beat them when we met in Egypt a year ago".
Both teams last met in a group D clash at the African Nations Cup in Egypt early last year, when a Taye Taiwo free-kick in the 81st minute separated the two sides at the El-Masry Stadium in Port Said.
Ghana failed to reach the knock-out phase from that pool while Nigeria took bronze. But the Black Stars shone at the World Cup finals in Germany where Nigeria were absent, and have gone ahead to win four friendly games against Togo, Senegal, Japan and South Korea since then, as well as signing respected French manager Claude LeRoy.
The Super Eagles will welcome Germany''s 1974 World Cup winner Berti Vogts as new manager at the match in the 25,000-capacity Griffin Park on Tuesday and Kanu adds that the players will especially want to impress the new coach.
"It is natural. Everyone will want to impress the new coach, Mr Vogts. We look forward to seeing him".
Kanu, who has scored 11 goals for English Premiership club Portsmouth in all competitions this season, will lead the Nigerian line alongside 12-goal Yakubu Aiyegbeni and 10-goal Obafemi Martins, who also play in the Premiership for Middlesbrough and Newcastle respectively.
Source:
CUBAGEE OF RADIO B.A.R SPORTS IN SUNYANI
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