Super Eagles B winger Ubong Friday is not bothered by the prospect of his side’s daunting task in Sunday’s West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations final.
Nigeria face sworn-rivals and tournament hosts Ghana in the Championship match, less than a week after both teams met in their final group stage game, a 2-0 victory for Friday’s Eagles.
Nigeria edged Benin 1-0 on Thursday to reach the final while Ghana beat Niger 2-0 same day at the sold out Cape Coast Sports Stadium in Cape Coast.
Ghana coach Maxwell Konadu hailed the impact of home fans on his side and encouraged them to do even more to help sway Sunday’s final in his side’s favour.
Friday who stars for Nigeria Professional Football League side Akwa United is however unfazed by whatever turnout they face on Sunday.
“Football is played on the pitch and not by the fans,” Friday told www.aclsports.com.
“The fans can only sing and dance, it is left to us to play.
“The fans were all there when we beat them the first time and I believe they won’t stop us the second time as well,” he added.
Friday has risen from being a peripheral part to a key component of the Nigerian side at the subregional tournament and is favourite to start in Sunday’s final.
Friday alongside tournament’s revelation, Peter Eneji – scorer of Nigeria’s second goal against Ghana on Monday – are expected to flank league topscorer Anthony Okpotu in Sunday’s final.
Nigerian neighbours Benin and Niger will slug it out in the tournament’s third place playoff at 2pm local time on Sunday before the final at 6pm.
Just like Nigeria and Ghana, both Benin and Niger also faced off in the final game in Group B on Tuesday.
