COACH of the Black Stars of Ghana, Herbert Ado, has adjudged the Nigerian Eagles as the only team capable of stopping Ghana from lifting the maiden WAFU Cup of Nations' trophy.
He also expressed disappointment over scanty spectators at the Ijebu-Ode International Stadium, which hosted the Group B opener between Ghana and Togo. Speaking after the 2-0 spanking of Togolese team, Coach Ado who holds an imposing record in the history of WAFU-organised competitions, having won three times with the national side in Cote d'Ivoire 1983, Ghana 1986 and Liberia 1987 and two other times with club side, was confident that his team would also make history as first winner of the maiden WAFU Nations Cup.
The coach, who have won the CAF Premier League three times with Ashante Kotoko, Accra Hearts of Oak and Ashanti Gold, was hoping that the victories recorded by Ghana's U-20 team, Black Starlites at the last WAFU-organised competition in Warri and the U-20 World Cup, would be a source of motivation to his boys when they eventually meet with the Eagles.
"Ghana and Nigeria are branded as brothers but when it comes to the pitch, it's a different story. On Friday, I saw Nigeria demolish Benin and I have learnt one or two things. We are looking forward to meeting Nigeria if the chance comes because what I saw is a great challenge coming from Nigerian team led by Amokachi who I have always admired even when he was a player."
On spectatorship, he said: "I didn't see any crowd. It is just a few of us who were enjoying the game and I hope in the future, they will come because I believe they are just testing the coast and with the kind of football that they have seen, those who were here will spread the news and they will come. This things need a lot of publicity because here in Africa, we play a lot of good football."
On his assessment of the Togolese team, he said: "I will say that the Togolese team is just like the Ghanaian team but they lack the competitive edge, they don't have the killer instinct because they are not playing competitive football. They play good football but they are not playing competitions unlike our boys who are sharp because they play in the Premier League and other competitions."
