Michael Essien Says Ghana Better Team Than Nigeria

It is widely perceived that the Ghana national team is under a lot of trouble due to the poor form under Avram Grant.

The national team are going into the 2017 African Cup of Nations after having failed to win their last five matches in all competitions. Even in terms of the tournament itself, Ghana have an extremely poor record after not having won the title since 1982. Despite this poor record, former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is remaining confident that the national team will be able to make a major impact at the upcoming edition in Gabon.

Essien also went on to claim that Ghana are much better team than Nigeria, who have failed to qualify for the tournament. Nigeria are one of the recent winners of the African Cup of Nations after having won the title in 2013. However, they have not been seen in the last two editions of the tournament.

Essien’s claim very be tested to the maximum even in the group stages of the competition with Ghana taking on Egypt, Mali, and Uganda. Egypt will be the undoubted favourites for the victory.

The 2015 edition held in Equatorial Guinea was won by Ivory Coast on penalties, as they finally managed to end a long wait for the trophy. Ghana were the finalists in the tournament, but they are not expected to make the same kind of impact this time around. “I think I was not yet born the last time we won the Nations Cup, but still we are better than Nigeria as far as football is concerned,” said the former Chelsea midfielder. The 2016 African footballer of the year award will be given out shortly and Michael Essien labelled his former Chelsea teammate John obi Mikel has one of the favourites for the award.