Nigeria and Ghana resume fierce rivalry

Cairo - The football rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana ranks among the most intense in Africa.

And it resumes this weekend at under-23 level when Abuja plays hosts to the west Africa giants as the group phase of the 2008 Beijing Olympics qualifying competition kicks off.

For Nigeria the clash offers the chance to settle a score after their shock elimination from the 2007 All-Africa Games qualifiers by Ghana on away goals after two draws.

Nigeria coach Henry Nwosu fanned the competitive flames by dismissing Ghana ahead of a potentially crucial clash in Group A, which includes Ethiopia and South Africa.

"There is nothing special about the Black Meteors (Ghana) and I believe their stamina is suspect," the former national team star told reporters during a break in preparations.

Among the Europe-based professionals called up are Solomon Okoronkwo from German club Hertha Berlin, who scored twice in the previous round drubbing of Equatorial Guinea.

Ghana have preferred action to words, beating the senior national team and a first division club during training in neighbouring Togo, and much is expected of striker Asamoah Gyan from Italian club Udinese.

South Africa have been hard hit by injuries with goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and midfielders Lance Davids and Clifford Ngobeni ruled out of the encounter with Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.

But coach Steve Komphela, first captain of the national senior team when it emerged from racism-induced insolation 15 years ago, is surprisingly upbeat ahead of a demanding six-match programme stretching to March.

"I wanted to be in the group of death because we have quality players capable of handling any situation. For us to be classified as giants, we must beat giants," he told the South African media.

Although Ethiopia are African football lightweights, they have a good record in age-limit competitions and are favoured to launch their campaign with a victory.

After eliminating Egypt in the final qualifying round, Ivory Coast appear the team to beat in Group B although they must tackle Zambia in the mining town of Chingola without injured leading scorer Sekou Cisse.

Zambia coach Peter Kaumba, among the most feared strikers in Africa two decades ago, has been hard hit by withdrawals with some starlets in the senior squad and others preparing for the world youth champonship.

The other fixture in this pool brings together Senegal and Mali for a west Africa derby in Dakar with the home team getting its first taste of action after two walkovers.

Botswana, shock winners over 2004 Athens Olympics qualifiers Tunisia, are away to Morocco in Group C, where Cameroon host Guinea in the northern town of Garoua.

The group winners qualify for Beijing with Nigeria or Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon early favourites to represent Africa in a competition won by Nigeria in 1996 and Cameroon four years later.