Former Ghana international Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has warned Black Galaxies head coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani against adopting a defensive strategy in the decisive second leg of their 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) playoff against Nigeria, Soccernet.football reports.
The first leg, held at the Accra Sports Stadium, ended in a goalless draw, leaving the tie delicately balanced ahead of the return leg on December 28 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria.
With a spot in the 2025 CHAN tournament at stake, Badu stressed the need for Ghana to secure victory.
“We should be very careful not to go and defend,” Badu told Joy Sports via Sports World Ghana. “This is only one game, and when you lose, you are not going anywhere. We can’t do that [lose] because, mind you, we didn’t qualify for the [2025] Africa Cup of Nations.”
The former Udinese midfielder, a key figure in Ghana’s 2009 CHAN campaign, underscored the importance of avoiding further setbacks for Ghanaian football.
The 34-year-old who earned 78 caps for Ghana and scored 11 goals added: “If the CHAN too, we don’t qualify, then there will be a little bit of disaster. So, we will support them, pray for them, and they [Galaxies] should go all out and win the game for us in the return leg.”
The stakes are high for both nations. Ghana, who overcame Nigeria on penalties to qualify for the last CHAN tournament, will aim to replicate that success. Meanwhile, Nigeria, absent from the last two editions, are determined to return to the continental stage.
The winner of the tie will join other African nations at the 2025 CHAN, set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.