GHANA's Black Meteors are hoping to give Nigeria a good run for their money when they play them in an international friendly in Uyo on Friday.
The Meteors have been called in as a replacement for the local Black Stars to face their Nigerian counterparts in a match to inaugurate the new Akwa Ibom Stadium.
Nigeria initially turned down the Ghana Football Association's (GFA) offer to present the Meteors instead of the Black Stars due to Ghana’s inability to raise a credible team because the Premier League was yet to start. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) seems to have made a U-turn and will now have Nigeria's local Eagles face Ghana's Meteors.
Coach Malik Jabir, the head coach of the Meteors, said the match would be a good exercise for his team which is preparing for the 2016 Olympic qualifiers which start in December.
While he would not focus much on the results, Coach Jabir insisted his side would be no pushovers and would give the Nigerians what they had hoped to get from the Stars.
"For us as a team, once we have begun our preparations, every chance to play such a high-profile match is welcome, and we are very excited about the trip.
"We have been in camp for two weeks and from the blend I have, I think it will be a good exercise and we will give the Nigerians their money's worth," Coach Jabir told the Graphic Sports yesterday.
A 17-man squad will make the trip to Nigeria on Wednesday and among the players likely to make it are goalkeeper Richard Ofori of Wa All Stars, Lawrence Tetteh (Ashgold), Vincent Atinga (Hearts of Oak) and Benjamin Adjei (Heart of Lions), all defenders, as well as Kojo Poku, a midfielder of Asante Kotoko.
Coach Jabir is likely to come up against Stephen Keshi who was reinstated as Nigeria coach last Friday.
Keshi, who handled both the senior national teams during his first term, was sacked last month, but a presidential intervention last week saw him reinstated as national coach.
On his resumption, Keshi is reported to have named a strong 24-man local squad that will begin preparation today, for the inauguration match which will have Nigeria's President, Goodluck Jonathan, as the Special Guest of Honour.
