Soccer News of Thursday, 1 February 2001

Source: sportserver

Nigeria to train in Togo ahead of Ghana clash

Nigeria will train in Togolese capital Lome on the run-up to the decisive Group B World Cup qualifying tie in March against Ghana, an official said here.

"We expect to train in Lome for at least a week before our crucial match against the Black Stars of Ghana on March 10," a spokesman for the Nigerian Football Association (NFA) Austin Mgbolu said on Wednesday.

"All the players have agreed to report in Togo by March 5 so as to avoid the situation where some of them join the team the day of the match," he stated.

"Despite their loss to Liberia in Accra, Ghana, they will remain formidable opponents against us and so we are not taking any chances," he added.

Nigeria's last away match against Ghana was in 1991 when the Super Eagles lost by a goal to their hosts in an African Nations Cup qualifier.

Nigeria tops Group B of the qualifying series for the 2002 World Cup to be hosted by South Korea and Japan.

It is tied on six points after three matches with surprise team the Lone Star of Liberia, while Ghana is on three points with a game in hand.

Sudan and Sierra Leone are the other teams in this group.