Former Black Galaxies captain Gladson Awako has cautioned Ghana’s home-based national team to brace for a tough encounter against Nigeria in the 2024 CHAN qualifiers. Ghana will host the first leg of the playoffs on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at the Accra Sports Stadium, with the return leg set for the following week in Nigeria.

Awako, who played a pivotal role in Ghana’s victory over Nigeria in the 2022 CHAN playoffs, believes history alone won’t guarantee success this time. Speaking to Asempa FM, he said, “It will not be easy for the Black Galaxies to eliminate Nigeria again. The last time, we managed to edge them out, but this is Ghana versus Nigeria—it’s never straightforward.”

He added, “Nigerians always feel they are ahead of us because of their stature and where they are coming from, but we often surprise them. I believe these young players can do the same by staying humble and listening to their technical staff.”

The rivalry between the two West African nations adds another layer of intensity to the fixture. Ghana will be hoping to replicate their success from two years ago when they defeated Nigeria on penalties to qualify for the tournament.

With a spot in the 2024 CHAN tournament at stake, the Black Galaxies will need to deliver a strong performance at home to gain an advantage before heading to Nigeria.