Black Galaxies trainer, Annor Walker admits he was scared when the Nigerians scored late goals in the return leg of the CHAN qualification playoff but his players stood and assured him of winning possibilities.
Ghana were on the verge of securing a comfortable victory following their 2-0 win over the Super Eagles in the first leg but late brace from Zikifilu Mohammad took the game into a penalty shootout.
It was a shocking moment for Ghana after conceding the late goals as the Nigerians tried to stun their rivals having scored late equalizers but the Black Galaxies were lucky to secure a 5-4 win to book a ticket for the next edition of the CHAN tournament since 2014.
After the game, Coach Annor Walker revealed in a conversation how afraid he was when the late goals came and the reactions of his players before the penalty kicks.
“We went to Nigeria and we were already having a two-goal lead. I put that one aside and told the players that we are now coming to start. God knows the best. They equalized but I knew that we were going to qualify for the CHAN. Before the penalty, I spoke with the boys and all the first five I selected scored because of the hard work and what I told them.
“To be honest, I’m a human being and it affected me when the equalizers came but I lifted up my head to the Lord I have,” Annor Walker told Ghanasportspage.com.
“The players told me that I shouldn’t worry. All our hard work will not be wasted. No matter how it is we will win. It motivated me.
“I got to know that I have some God fearing and hardworking players. They did it for me, Ghana and the technical team,” he ended.
The Ghanaian giants progressed to the play-off of the CHAN qualifiers after edging Benin 4-0 in a double header played in Cape Coast and Cotonou.
Originally scheduled from 10 July to 1 August 2022, CAF rescheduled the tournament to January 2023 following an announcement at an executive committee meeting held on 10 September 2020 via video conferencing, citing the postponement of the 2020 African Nations Championship to 2021 and the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa as well as the already-scheduled 2022 FIFA World Cup in November–December 2022.
Eighteen nations from the continent will compete for the ultimate.
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