Nwosu downplays Ghana

Players banned from sex

Assistant coach of Nigeria's U-23 Eagles says Nigerians should not lose sleep over next weekend's match against Ghana since they are not the team to beat.

Nigerians may be losing sleep over the encounter especially since it was the Ghanaian side that knocked Nigeria out of the All Africa Games two months ago but Nwosu says he will fear Ethiopia rather.

"We keep talking about Ghana when there is really nothing special about them," Nwosu told Jerrysonfm

"We know Ghana very well. I had played against them a lot of times in my career, so had Siasia and even the current players in the team have met them lots of times either at national team level or on club side level so I do not think they will spring any surprise to us."

The former Green Eagles captain however warned that the Ethiopians are the team to look out for since they will surely spring the surprise factor.

"First thing is that we do not know what clear cut pattern they play because they are not really one of the so called big football playing nations but most of all is their stamina because of the area they are located on the continent.

"They have the stamina to last for as long as a hundred and twenty minutes and that is something to worry about. Nigerians worry a lot about Ghana because I know they want to protect the rivalry but I think we should be looking more at the dark horses."

He affirmed that Ghana would not be a threat to the ambitions of Nigeria in the bid to play in the Olympics.

"I do not see Ghana and South Africa as threats and I mean it. These are people we have known over the years and played against them a lot of times but the Ethiopians are the dark horses in the group," Nwosu said.

Nwosu also revealed to Jerrysonfm that sex would be a no go area for players of his team as they prepare for the Olympic Games qualifying match against Ghana scheduled for June 3.

"I am not sure I would allow that," Nwosu said. "It is a no go area."

Ironically, Henry Nwosu is noted for statements he made in his playing days that he could hardly play a match on weekends without first going through a bout of sex.

"Yes, in my playing days I used to do that a lot but there is a difference between when we used to play and what happens now.

"In my days we used to do a lot of extra training after the coach has finished with us but these days the players depend only on what the coaches teach them so letting them have sex before the game will be counter-productive.

"It will be too risky to allow the players to do such a thing. That would be like shooting ourselves in the foot.