Black Stars to face Nigeria in int'l friendly next month

Ghana’s national team will play African champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, in an international friendly next month with President Goodluck Jonathan in attendance, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

The timely friendly match has been scheduled by the Nigerian government and FA to officially open the ultra-modern Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo.

The Local Black Stars will play their Nigerian counterparts on November 7.

President Goodluck Jonathan, the leader of Nigeria, who has close affinity with the people of Ghana despite the rivalry between the two countries, mooted the idea for the Local Black Stars to play Nigeria.

He will open the ultra-modern Akwa Ibom International Stadium before the match kick-offs.

The match is timely for Ghana as players of the side are seeking matches to be active with the start league hanging in the balance.

With the Local Black Stars seeking action to keep players active, the match has come as a timely boost for the side as they prepare for future assignments.

Nigeria last met Ghana in a competitive game in the semi-finals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) hosted by South Africa in January and the Black Stars ran away with a 4-1 victory after penalty shoot out. That game ended goalless in duration time.

However, unlike the clash in Bloemfontein, which was for home-based players only, the November 7 clash between the rivals will feature the full compliment of both national teams in an event which will be laced with cultural dance, music and total entertainment.

To ensure a hitch free event, the Akwa Ibom State government has inaugurated a stadium commissioning planning committee to deliver “a unique commissioning ceremony” for the 30,000 capacity Akwa Ibom International Stadium.

Already, organisers of the opening ceremony are also promising a lot of excitement that will showcase the best of Akwa Ibom culture through music and dance.

The 30,000 seating capacity stadium which looks very much like the Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, is second to none in the West African sub-region.

Top football icons, including the legendary Brazilian Pele, have also been invited to grace the opening of the stadium scheduled to play host to Nigeria’s last group game against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa on November 19.

Towards guaranteeing a hitch-free opening ceremony, the Akwa Ibom State Government on Tuesday in Uyo set in motion a Central Planning Committee to deliver a unique opening ceremony.

Major features of the committee include responsibilities that cut across Technical, Logistics, Media and Publicity, Sports content, Venue and facilities, security, protocol and ceremonial, Medical and secretariat.

The edifice was built to bear similarities with Bayern Munich’s Alianz Arena, the Bird Nest Stadium in Beijing China, and the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.