Former Black Stars Coach Anticipates Tough Test for Ghana Ahead of World Cup Blockbuster Against Nigeria

• James Kwesi Appiah has hinted Ghana will be in for a stern test against Nigeria in the World Cup playoffs
• Ghana will host Nigeria at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on March 25 before heading to the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja
• Kwesi Appiah guided the Black Stars to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which was Ghana's last appearance at the global showpiece

Ex-Black Stars trainer Kwesi Appiah believes Ghana's World Cup playoffs against the Super Eagles of Nigeria is not going to be an 'easy game'.

The two West African giants will lock horns in the coming week for one of Africa's five tickets at the World Cup, which will be staged in Qatar later this year.

Ghana has not qualified to the Mundial since Kwesi Appiah masterminded Ghana's third appearance at the World Cup in 2014.

Appiah, who became the first Ghanaian to lead the nation to the World Cup, in an interview remarked Ghana’s contest against Nigeria will not be easy but reckoned with support from Ghanaians the team can qualify to Qatar.

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“It is about Ghana and I will entreat all and sundry to rally behind the Black Stars against Nigeria for us to win,” he said as quoted by Football Ghana.

“It is not going to be an easy game but I believe if we support the team wholeheartedly, we will be victorious."

How did Ghana reach the World Cup in 2014

After finishing at the top of Group D with 15 points from six games, Ghana was paired with Egypt, who did not drop points in their group games to reach the third and final phase of the qualifiers.

Playing at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Ghana thrashed the Pharaohs 6-1 to render the second leg in Cairo a mere academic exercise.

Despite winning by two goals to one on 30 June Stadium in Cairo, it was not enough to undo Ghana's emphatic results chalked in Kumasi.

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Earlier, Sports Brief reported that a member of Ghana's 2010 World Cup team, John Painstil, has suggested that the Ghana Football Association appoints Kwesi Appiah as coach of the Black Stars for the game against Nigeria.

The Black Stars are without a coach ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifier against the Super Eagles in March.

And John Painstil feels the clock is ticking as the GFA continues its search for a new coach, while Kwesi Appiah is available for the role.