Ghana Coach Criticises CAF for Pairing Black Stars with Nigeria in CHAN Qualifiers
The Black Galaxies were eliminated after losing 3-1 to Nigeria’s Super Eagles B squad in the second leg of their qualifier. The first leg in Accra ended in a goalless draw, but Nigeria dominated the return match with first-half goals from Sodiq Akinola Ismaila, Junior Harrison Nduka, and Saviour Johnson Isaac.
Dramani’s Reaction
Speaking after the match, Dramani admitted that Nigeria deserved the win, highlighting their energy and determination. “Nigeria showed much more hunger and did a lot of running. We gave away some key moments in the game, and it cost us,” he said.
The coach reflected on the match, acknowledging that conceding quick goals can demoralise a team. “After the first goal, the second drained our energy, and the third made it even harder to recover. These are lessons we must learn to come back stronger.”
Criticism of CAF
Dramani also criticised CAF for pairing two of the continent’s strongest teams in the qualifiers. “Nigeria and Ghana are among Africa’s best. We should be playing in the tournament, not knocking each other out at this stage,” he stated.
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He called on CAF to review the qualification process and create a format that allows top teams to participate in the competition, ensuring better representation and quality.
Despite the loss, Dramani remains optimistic, saying failure can be a stepping stone for improvement. “Sometimes, failure is an opportunity to reflect and bounce back stronger,” he concluded.
The Super Eagles B team will now progress to the next round of the CHAN tournament, leaving Ghana to rebuild and focus on future competitions.
