Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, head coach of Ghana’s Black Galaxies, has admitted the superiority of Nigeria’s Super Eagles B after their commanding 3-1 victory in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier.
The match, held Saturday night at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, secured Nigeria’s spot in the competition.
Dramani had arrived in Nigeria on Friday confident of repeating Ghana’s 2022 success over Nigeria. However, the Super Eagles B, led by Daniel Ogunmodede, delivered a stunning eight-minute burst of attacking brilliance, scoring three goals that left Ghana reeling.
Sodiq Akinola Ismaila opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Just three minutes later, Junior Harrison Nduka surged from defense to double Nigeria’s lead.
The onslaught continued when Saviour Johnson Isaac added a third goal in the 25th minute, ensuring a dominant half-time lead for Nigeria.
Although Amankona Stephen managed a consolation goal for Ghana with 16 minutes left, it was far from enough to salvage the game.
Speaking after the match, Dramani appeared downcast, acknowledging Nigeria’s superior hunger and determination as key factors in their win.
“Every coach will feel disappointed, but the result speaks for itself,” Dramani said during the post-match press conference. “Nigeria showed more hunger and energy. We made costly mistakes, especially during critical moments of the game, and that was disastrous for us.”
He elaborated on how the rapid succession of goals impacted his team: “After the first goal, the second goal drains your energy.
The third goal was just as damaging. At that point, it’s difficult for any team to recover. Nigeria wanted the win more, especially in the first half.”
The loss eliminates Ghana from the 2024 CHAN, adding to their recent woes after failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
When asked about the state of Ghanaian football, Dramani dismissed the notion of a crisis, instead describing it as a transitional period.
“Every team or country goes through transitional phases,” he explained. “This is one for us. It’s a tough lesson, but failure often provides the opportunity to reflect and bounce back stronger.”
The rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana, two West African football giants, frequently sees one eliminated in qualifiers for major competitions. This recurring scenario sparked questions about whether it undermines the quality of representation in African tournaments.
Dramani urged CAF to reconsider its competition formats: “This is an issue CAF must address. They need to evaluate and create a format that guarantees the best representation for the continent.”
With this victory, Nigeria’s Super Eagles B secure their place in the 2024 CHAN, while Ghana is left to regroup and prepare for future challenges.