The Black Stars of Ghana are set to face their long-standing rivals, Nigeria, in a high-profile friendly match on March 22 in Morocco.
Tru News Report understands the Nigeria Football Association initiated the match, which will also feature the Super Eagles playing against Mali in another friendly game in Marrakech.
Following the match against Nigeria, Ghana will then play against the Uganda national team four days later. It is worth noting that Ghana is currently in search of a new head coach after parting ways with Chris Hughton after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
Similarly, Nigeria is also without a head coach after José Peseiro’s resignation following the team’s second-place finish in the recent AFCON 2023, which was won by the host Cote d’Ivoire.
Meanwhile, Mauritania’s head coach, Amir Abdou, has reportedly been approached by the Ghana Football Association to take over the vacant Black Stars job.
According to AfricaSoccer.com, he has received a tempting offer of USD45,000 per month. This offer surpasses the proposed USD35,000 offer from the Mauritanian Football Federation for a three-year contract renewal, which has created uncertainty about his future.
The Ghana FA is keen on securing the services of the French/Comorian tactician to replace the recently dismissed Chris Hughton. This decision comes after the disappointing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, where the Black Stars failed to progress from their group.
Abdou’s dissatisfaction with the way he has been treated by the Mauritanian media has further complicated the negotiations. In the meantime, the Mauritanian Federation is reportedly considering Spanish trainer Aritz Lopez Garay as a potential replacement, even before Abdou’s potential departure for the Ghana job.
With Abdou’s current contract expiring on March 1, 2024, there is a sense of urgency surrounding the unfolding situation.
Abdou has previously achieved success by guiding Mauritania to their best-ever AFCON campaign, reaching the Round of 16 after defeating Algeria.
He has also had coaching success with Comoros, leading them to their first-ever AFCON appearance. Notably, they defeated Ghana in the group stage in 2021 but were eventually eliminated by the hosts in the Round of 16.
