Ghana U23 Set For 'All-Die-Be-Die' Clash Against Nigeria

A tried and test band of Under-23 players are faced with a mammoth task of securing qualification to the 2011 Africa Games against rivals Nigeria this afternoon at the Baba Yara Stadium. Under-23 players are faced with a mammoth task of securing qualification to the 2011 Africa Games against rivals Nigeria this afternoon at the Baba Yara Stadium. The Black Meteors must conjure magic to overturn a 3-1 deficit from the first leg against a star-studded Dream Team V side handled by ex-international Austin Eguaveon. Ghana are also guided by ex-international and captain Akwesi Appiah who doubles as Black Stars assistant coach. Nigeria are out for revenge after Ghana denied them qualification to the last All Africa Games in 2007. In March, Ghana�s Under-20 ladies eliminated the Super Falcons in the All Africa Games qualifiers. Black Meteors Ghana captain Samuel Inkoom took a cut at his Ukrainian side FC Dnipro to join the team and midfielder Emmanuel Agyeman-Badu also successfully negotiated his release from Udinese. Winger Opoku Agyemang, who was a doubt, took part in the final training session on Saturday and could be available for selection. Striker Villarreal midfielder Mubarak Wakaso, Jordan Ayew (Olympique Marseille), Afriyie Acquah (Palermo), Rabiu Mohammed, Jonathan Mensah (Evian TG FC), Daniel Addo (FC Zorya), David Addy (FC Porto) and Daniel Opare (Standard Liege) who started in the first leg have been recalled by the clubs. But the technical team has fortified the squad with striker Saddick Adams, Malik Akowuah, Latif Salifu, Ben Acheampong and Under-20 defender Rashid Sumaila. Dream Team V Nigeria will miss goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye, who is out due to injury, skipper Lukman Haruna, Ahmed Musa, Obiora Nwankwo, Rabiu Ibrahim and Nurudeen Orelesi. Four new players including Spain-based Olaitan Otubanjo for tie has been invited to beef up the squad. Atletico Madrid midfielder Otubanjo, who has scored in every training with the Dream Team, as well as Lawal Adewole from Atletico Belares, Norway-based Chukwuma Akabueze and Festus Austin of Dolphin are the new comers in a 20-man squad. That notwithstanding, head coach Eguavoen is upbeat about his team�s chances. �Ghana stopped us from featuring in the last All Africa Games in Algiers in 2007, this is our time to ensure they suffer a similar fate. They should just forget about going to Maputo,� Eguavoen said after the game in Benin City. �They played a wonderful game and we respect them but only one of us will have to qualify. We�ll go there to protect our advantage and possibly beat them on their soil. �We know the implications of the away goal they have but that will count for little by the time the game is over. �I expect an explosive game against Ghana,� he said. �We have a lot of respect for the Ghana team and I am sure the Ghanaians also have similar respect for us so, I guess it is going to be a nice game.�