Ghana battles for pride in Port Harcourt

Ghana and Nigeria will be meeting for the 47th time in competitive soccer, but perhaps, Saturday's final World Cup qualifier, may be the most important of all.

The Super Eagles are seeking their third consecutive World Cup appearance, but that can only be possible if they manage to scale over the predominantly home-based Black Stars, who even though may be out, would be fighting for pride.

Ghana has won 20 of the 46 encounters as against 11 by Nigeria while 17 of the battles have been draw.

Ghana-Nigeria matches, no matter the occasion, have always been fierce, and this coming encounter may not be different, and even if it will be, it would only be fiercer than the others.

Caretaker coach Fred Osam Duodo could be facing his biggest challenge yet, since taking over from fellow local coach, Jones Attuquayefio a couple of months go. But the coach told the GNA in an interview earlier this week that if what the team went through in war ravaged Liberia was anything to go by, nothing could intimidate his young players.

But the Nigerians may be resorting to all means on and off the pitch to secure a place in next year's World Cup finals.

Aware of this, officials of the Black Stars will be going in a chartered flight from Accra and sources said they would go with their own food and water to avoid any hospitality problems.

Osam Doduo is expected featured all his four foreign-based players - skipper Emmanuel Duah, Stephen Appiah, Mohammed Gargo, and Charles Amoah.

The Black Stars would play without any of the names the Nigerians dread most - Abedi Ayew Pele, Toney Yeboah and goalkeeper Edward Ansah but it is even more dangerous playing against an unknown side.

The last time the Stars featured a predominantly local side was in March this year in their first leg encounter of Japan/Korea World Cup qualifier.

It was one match the Stars could have won with ease, as they overwhelmed their classy Nigerains stars including Nwonko Kanu, Finidi George and skipper Sunday Oliseh, but failed to translate their excellent performance into goals. The Super Eagles are likely to present almost the same side that battled the Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium two months ago for a place in the Japan/Korea mundial next year.

Liberia top the group with 15 points, Nigeria on 13, Ghana on 11, Sudan on nine while Sierra Leone on four. Only one team qualifiers from the group.

South Africa, Cameroon, Morocco and neophytes Senegal have all booked their tickets for the final, but Africa would have to wait after Saturday's game to determine who joins the other four. Is it going to be Liberia or Nigeria?

Your guess is as good as mine.