Nigeria and Ghana ready to rumble

Ghana Vrs. Nigeria 19:00 CET -Live on Eurosport

The latest instalment in one of international football's most bitter rivalries will be played out at the African Nations Cup on Sunday when Nigeria face Ghana in a potentially explosive quarter-final.

Nigeria, regarded as one of the tournament favourites, face a youthful Ghanaian side who only scraped into the last eight thanks to a miraculous 2-1 win over Burkina Faso last week.

Fixtures between the two teams have a history of producing fireworks, but Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu is determined not to let the 'Ghana factor' distract his team in a match he is confident the Super Eagles will win.

"Ghana v Nigeria is always a rivalry and each time we play it's always like two giants fighting. And you will see that in the game come Sunday," Amodu told AFP. "But we are looking at a situation where we're trying to reduce the tension in our camp, so we are not over-emphasising the fact that we are playing Ghana. "They are just another team that we have to play. I don't want to start talking about jinxs or scores to settle," said Amodu, referring to Nigeria's defeat to Ghana in the semi-finals of the 1992 tournament.

"Ghana are capable of giving us problems but we're equal to the task. We will give them respect but not be afraid," added Amodu, who has a full squad to choose from for the game at Bamako's March 26 Stadium.

Nigeria advanced to the last eight after topping Group A with a 1-0 victory over Liberia in Mopti last Monday.

Though the Nigerians have failed to fully hit their stride so far, Amodu believes the knockout phase will bring out the best in his team.

"If we play well like I expect us to do we should have an advantage and we should win," he said. "Ghana being one of the most formidable opponents in this competition is good for us - the bigger the better."

Nigeria are expected to field the same team that started against Liberia with Julius Aghahowa, scorer of both Nigeria's goals so far in the tournament, again beginning at centre-forward instead of right midfield.

"Julius can play anywhere. But we are having a bit of success with him playing as a forward, so I don't see us changing that anytime soon," said Amodu. While Nigeria are at full-strength, Ghana coach Fred Osam-Duodo will have to fill the gaping hole in midfield caused by an injury to the influential Michael Essien.

The Ghanaians have moulded their side around the successful Under-20 team which finished runners-up to Argentina in the FIFA World Youth Championships last year.

Emmanuel Duah, one of the older players in the side, said the absence of Essien and Czech-based striker Baffour Gyan would make the Black Stars' task even harder.

But Duah, who plays in Portugal for Uniao Leiria, thinks that the fresher legs of Ghana's young squad could give his team an edge.

"We've not been playing well and the injuries to Michael and Baffour will affect the team. Nigeria have the big stars and they are a strong side - but they don't run as well as us," Duah said.

Unlike Amodu, Duah believes the history between the two sides could also play a significant part in proceedings.

"You can't just dismiss the Ghana-Nigeria rivalry like that. And we have a better record than Nigeria in these matches," said Duah.