Keshi
The first edition of the CAF CHAN Tournament was hosted by Ivory Coast in 2009 the final was played between Congo DR and Ghana and it ended Congo DR 2 – 0 Ghana, the 3rd place play-off Between Zambia and Senegal ended Zambia 2 – 1 Senegal.
Then came the next edition of the CAF CHAN tournament in 2011 hosted by Sudan, the host nation made it to the 3rd place play-off where they faced Algeria, the Sudanese pipped the Algerians by a lone goal, and in the final of that year’s tournament Tunisia walloped Angola 3-0 to carry the day.
Fast forward to 2014 and it’s the turn of the Rainbow nation South Africa. The host nation started on a bright note winning their first game and playing a draw in the second while Nigeria faltered at the start of their debut at CHAN.
A must win for both nations ended up in favour of the Nigerians who ran the Bafana Bafana ragged and this led to the South Africa minister tongue-lashing the team and calling for a complete overhaul of the entire football system, it was even hinted that a change of name might be in the offing.
The Super Eagles however moved on the quarter-final stage to face African football powerhouse Morocco in an epic battle. Two goals in quick succession in the first half of the game was surely going to be enough to sent the boys from Nigeria packing ! But wait a minute, isn’t this the same coach that won the AFCON trophy in the same country around this time last year? Well some pep-talk by Stephen Keshi was all it took as the Eagles came out Guns blazing in the 2nd half of the match to give us one of the finest moments in football history as the Super Eagles eventually triumphed over the Atlas Lions of Morocco to book a place in the Semi-final of the tournament.
The Blackstars of Ghana also won their quarter final match to book a place in the Semi-final against their brothers from West-Africa Nigeria. The Ghanians tutored by Maxwell Konadu have arguably got the meanest defence at this years CHAN, letting only two goals in the four games they have played so far.
The Nigerians on the other hand have got serious issues at the back and this is evident in the way they have been letting in goals. Captain and goalkeeper of the team Chigozie Agbim has been largely singled for blame but we all forget that a goalkeeper is only as good as his back line.
So today when the home Blackstars of Ghana take on the Home Super Eagles of Nigeria it will be a battle between the team with the “best” defence against the team with the “worst” defence. But that’s not all while the Ghanians have not conceded much they haven’t scored much either, a miserly 4 goals from 4 games is not altogether “daunting” .
The Super Eagles on the other hand have scored a whopping twelve goals in four matches (that’s an average of three per match) so in contrast to their West African brothers the Eagles have been extremely prolific.
So today in Bloemfontein it’s the “Meanest” Defence versus the “Greatest” offence, and believe me when I say “something’s gotta give” this match will be good for the image of the African game and hopefully help attract more attention to the Local Leagues that have suffered much in the hand of foreign football leagues.
Can the Ghanians make it to their second CHAN final?
Will the Stars shine bright tonight?
Will the Eagles soar into the finals on their debut at CHAN
Can Keshi make history by making it to the final of 2 CAF tourneys back to back in the same country ?
All questions will be answered tonight at 7pm when the SUPER EAGLES take on the BLACKSTARS
Today it’s Konadu vs Keshi,
it’s Godfrey Saka vs Ejike Uzoenyi,
it’s Ghana vs Nigeria. And may the best team win
Sola Rogers
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Konadu
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