Dele Olorundare, a former Nigeria striker, believes Ghana would pick Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in their World Cup qualifying play-off roster to face Nigeria.
Interim coach Otto Addo revealed his 27-man team for Augustine Eguavoen’s men on Tuesday morning, with Thomas Partey of Arsenal and Jordan Ayew of Crystal Palace making the cut.
In an interview, the former Sunshine Stars goal machine praised the Black Stars squad while criticizing them for taking so long to announce their lineup.
“I have taken my time to go through the squad released by the Ghanaians, it is a good squad but not different from what I was expecting,” Olorundare said.
“To be honest with you, I keep asking myself why it took them so long to announce their squad. Due to their delays, I was expecting them to include Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in their list, but I guess they forgot.
“Well, whatever reasons they have is well known to them, but that will not stop them from losing to the Super Eagles in Kumasi and also in Abuja.”
Since their first encounter in this tournament on August 28, 1960, in Accra, when Nigeria won 4-1, the two countries have met seven times, with the Super Eagles winning twice.
The Ghanaians have won two of the six games, while the other four have resulted in stalemates.
When the 31-year-old was asked which team would qualify after the two legs, he said: “Judging by past records, we are to be scared of the Black Stars, but on current form – because of the performance of our players in Europe – we have the advantage.
“Should Victor Osimhen and Odion Ighalo re-enact their club form, then there will be no hiding place for Ghana in Kumasi.
“One disadvantage they have is that they will be missing the services of Jordan Ayew because of the red card he got in Cameroon.
“Overall, I expect a tough encounter but I am very sure that the Super Eagles will qualify for Qatar 2022.”
The World Cup play-off rematch will be held at the M.KO. Abiola Stadium in Abuja, with the aggregate winners representing Africa in the global football extravaganza.
