Japan/Korea 2002 World Cup Draws Excite Ghana

By Lanre Olaleye

Lagos - Contrary to the expectations of many Nigerians, the Black Stars of Ghana may turn out to be spoilers in the Super Eagles quest for a third consecutive World Cup qualification.

This became evident following the excitement that greeted the city of Accra soon after the release of the Japan/Korea 2002 World Cup qualification draws by FIFA Friday last week.

According to Samuel Barrington, of Journal Accra who spoke with P.M. Sport on phone over the weekend, a new vigour and optimism has taken over Ghanaian football circles as many soccer crazy Ghanaians are optimistic that the Black Stars will clinch the World Cup ticket ahead of Nigeria.

Drawn in Group B alongside Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Sudan, Ghanaians believe that the presence of the Super Eagles is enough to fire up the Black Stars to realize their most cherished dream of a first-ever World Cup qualification.

Barrington, a fanatical fan of the Super Eagles stated that the optimism of the Ghanaians should however not be dismissed as one informed by over-confidence, stressing that apart from gearing up preparation for the challenges ahead, the Ghanaians are also banking on history to upset the apple cart.

"They believe that the Stars and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun are the only two countries that have been posing problems for the Super Eagles and are ready to pose a big problem for the Eagles in order to qualify for the 2002 World Cup", Barrington disclosed.

He also disclosed that virtually all local newspapers are hopeful that after the disappointment of GHA-NI 2000 Nations Cup, Ghana's glory day is at hand following the release of the World Cup draws.

P.M. Sport investigation revealed that the Super Eagles have found the Black Stars a hard nut to crack in the last ten years. The last time Nigeria met Ghana in a competitive match at the senior national team level was at the Senegal '92 Nations Cup. The Black Stars had the better of the Eagles (2-1) in the semi final of the championship.

Before then, while both countries had World Cup disappointments for many years, the Ghanaians still managed to outclass Nigeria in the qualification rounds of Chile '62 and Germany '74 World Cup. Ghana beat Nigeria 4-2 in Accra and pulled a 2-2 draw in Lagos during the 1962 World Cup preliminary rounds. They repeated the same feat during the prelims of the 1974 edition with a 3-2 victory in Accra before pulling another draw in Lagos.

The only time Nigeria had the better of Ghana in a World Cup qualifier was during the 1974 qualifiers when the Green Eagles recorded a 2-1 victory in the first leg match in Lagos before securing a 1-1 draw in Accra.