Ghana to face Nigeria in Olympics

We have a chance of survival – Randy Abbey
Ghana have been drawn in the same group with perennial rivals Nigeria for the final group phase of the qualifiers for the 2008 Olympic Games. South Africa and Ethiopia are the other teams in the group. The qualifiers will be played in a league format between June and March 2008. The three group winners qualify for the final tournament at the Beijing Games.

Group A: Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa

Group B: Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, Zambia

Group C: Botswana, Cameroon, Guinea, Morocco

The Chairman of the Management Committee of the National Under-23 team, the Black Meteors, Mr Randy Abbey says Ghana’s chance of survival in the qualification for next year’s Olympic Games in Beijing is at all time high.

Ghana was on Tuesday housed alongside perennial rivals Nigeria, South Africa and Ethiopia in Group A for the final qualifiers that span June to March next year.

Abbey told GNA Sports: “I have absolute confidence in the abilities of our technical bench and the quality of the players to deliver. The motivation to fight for that slot for the competition is pretty high and with the provision of logistics being excellent so far, one cannot rule us out.”

The qualifiers will be played in a league format with the three group winners qualifying for the final tournament at the Beijing Games.

Though he reckoned each member of the group would come tough, he said; “we have what it takes to get maximum points from each game and qualify.”

The Meteors piped Nigeria to the single slot of the Algiers All African Games after drawing one all in Abuja. The first round game ended goalless in Ghana.

Ghana won bronze at the 1992 Barcelona event and poised to make a fine impression for the Asian event.

The Meteors exited from the group stage at the last competition held in Athens in 2004.

Source: GNA