2024 CHAN Qualifiers: We are focused on ourselves rather than the rivalry – Mas-Ud Didi Dramani ahead of Nigeria encounter

Black Galaxies coach,Mas-Ud Didi Dramani says they are focused on themselves rather than the rivalry of playing against Nigeria.The two rivals will clash for a spot in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament which is slated to be hosted next year inKenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.Ghana will host Nigeria in the first leg of the playoffs at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, December 22 before travelling for the return leg at theGodswill Akpabio Stadium on Saturday, December 28.Despite the rivalry between the two countries, Didi Dramani says he is focused on his team and not the rivalry that exists between the countries.”We focus on the team rather than the rivalry. While we respect the history, we are more concerned with our technical, tactical, and psychological preparation,” he told CAFOnline.He also highlighted the importance of managing pressure and encouraging players to emphasize teamwork over individual achievements.”The players are reminded to channel the pressure positively, emphasizing collective performance over individual efforts.”We remind the players that this is their moment to write history. The rivalry is a backdrop, but the focus remains on executing our game plan. We emphasize professionalism and staying composed under pressure,” he added.This will be the second consecutive year that the Black Galaxies face Nigeria in the playoff round.Ghana previously beat Nigeria on penalties two years ago to secure a spot in the last edition of the CHAN tournament, before suffering a quarterfinal exit at the tournament.