Ghana’s Vice-President, Mahamudu Bawumia, hopes his country can put its recent poor Africa Cup of Nations campaign behind them and rise to the challenge when they face Nigeria in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
The Black Stars are under pressure to reclaim their winning ways after placing last in their group at the continental showpiece and failing to win a single game.
In March, the four-time winners will face arch-rivals Nigeria in the final round of World Cup qualifiers for 2022.
“Regardless of the outcomes of their games, I’m always proud of the Black Stars for representing Ghana, especially during the pandemic,” Bawumia is quoted as having told a Magazine.
“Of course, we had a dismal Afcon tournament, and I am confident that we are capable of much more. Now is the time to work together as a team, especially as our attention shifts to the crucial World Cup qualifiers coming up in the coming months. I’ll always be rooting for them!”
Ghana will host Nigeria in Cape Coast on March 24, before heading out to Abuja three days later for the return match.
The champions of the two legs will join four other African nations in the global summit in Qatar in November and December.
After missing out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the Black Stars are hoping to qualify for the 2019 edition.
Following their disappointing performance at the African Cup of Nations, head coach Milovan Rajevac was fired, leaving a vacuum for the selection of a new technical leadership team.
The Ghana Football Association appointed an interim four-man technical leadership after failing to find a permanent head coach. Borussia Dortmund assistant coach Otto Addo was named head coach.
Former Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton will serve as a technical advisor, while Mas-Ud Didi Dramani of Nordsjaelland and Aston Villa U23 coach George Boateng of Aston Villa will serve as assistant coaches.
Nigeria, who had qualified for every World Cup except one since their debut in 1994, will be hoping to make their seventh appearance at Qatar 2022.
