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By Peter Akinbo
Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has expressed readiness for Nigeria’s upcoming international friendly against rivals Ghana in Marrakech, Morocco, on Friday (today), PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Nigeria will once again cross paths with their West African adversaries in an exhibition game as both teams look to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June.
The game comes exactly two years after the Black Stars got the better of Nigeria, via away goals, to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Revenge is, therefore, on the minds of the Super Eagles, who will have to find a way without their talismanic striker Victor Osimhen after the Napoli striker was ruled out of the game due to injury.
Nigeria are believed to be favourites for the fixture having emerged from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast with a silver medal after losing 2-1 to the hosts in the final of the tournament.
By contrast, Ghana will be going into Friday’s game on the back of a humiliating performance at the AFCON, where they were booted out at the group stage.
Speaking ahead of the high-profile international friendly between Super Eagles and the Black Stars, Omeruo described the fixture as a match that cannot be termed as a ‘friendly’ but they have been working hard and are ready for the clash.
“We have been training and working hard and you know its not usually a friendly game against Ghana. We are ready to come out to play, working with our new coach (Finidi George) for now, I think he’s been great so we are looking forward to it,” he said.
“Training has been great. It’s good to see the boys again after the AFCON and also to see (Wilfred) Ndidi who was missing and the likes of (Fisayo-Dele) Bashiru and other boys who weren’t at the tournament.”
The 30-year-old also praised potential debutant, Benjamin Tanimu, who has earned his first call-up to the Eagles squad saying, “He is actually a good player, a good defender. It is great that he has been able to join the team.”
Following the highly anticipated Ghana fixture, coach George’s side are scheduled to take on Mali in another friendly on March 26.