Somalia coach Yusuf Ali Nour has acknowledged the quality in Ghana’s squad but says the Ocean Stars will approach their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with confidence as they seek a positive result against the Black Stars.
Somalia were beaten 2-0 by Ghana in their previous meeting and Nour expects another demanding contest when the sides meet again in their next qualifying fixture.
“We know the Black Stars are a tough team with good players,” he said. “We are in a deadly group, the only group with two teams that have played at the World Cup, but we’ll focus on the task ahead and, Insha Allah, get the results.”
Nour said Somalia’s technical team had assessed Ghana’s strengths and weaknesses after their previous encounter. He challenged his players to improve their defensive work and make better use of the chances they create.
“We have seen they have quality players on the field and we have to pay extra attention to the way the danger came last Thursday and put that into action,” Nour said. “We have to try to defend better and try to capitalise on the opportunities we had.”
The coach insisted that the Ocean Stars were not dwelling on their previous performance or their defensive and goalscoring records. Instead, he said, the squad’s preparations were focused entirely on the upcoming match and what they could produce in it.
“We are not focused on the last game and our defensive or goalscoring records, but are rather focusing on tomorrow’s game and what we can do,” he said.
Somalia face a difficult challenge in a group containing strong opposition, but Nour remains determined to give his team the best possible opportunity of reaching the tournament.
“I cannot say we will qualify, but we will try our best,” he said.
The Ocean Stars have regularly played their home matches outside Somalia. Nour said that arrangement had become familiar to the team and would not alter their approach to the fixture.
“Normally we play out of our country and we have adapted to that,” he said. “Our focus is on how to make a good game and to try and get results, not where we play.”
Nour also underlined his respect for Ghana’s record and the experience within the Black Stars squad. Ghana played at the last World Cup, a fact the Somalia coach recognises as part of the challenge facing his players.
“We know the Ghanaian players and they are tough opponents,” he said. “We are not denying the team they are and the way they play. They played at the last World Cup, but we will try our best against them tomorrow.”
