By Jacob Ajom

Nigerian soccer fans in South Africa on Tuesday urged Coach Stephen Keshi not to allow the Black Stars to dictate the pace of the semi-final game with the Super Eagles. The match is in the ongoing African Nations Championships (CHAN) scheduled to hold on Wednesday in Bloemfontein.

The fans said in Johannesburg that the Eagles should not give in to fear or intimidation by the Black Stars.

They said the Eagles had the technical edge to ward off any threat from the Ghanaians.

Coach Salami Longe who oversees a football academy in Johannesburg, said that the Black Stars did not play any spectacular game against Congo in the quarter-finals.

He, however, said the Ghanaians could raise their game in the semi-finals because of the rivalry between both countries. “My appeal to the Eagles is that they should not allow the Black Stars to dictate the pace of the game. They should not even harbour any fears while facing up to Ghana.

“The Eagles should go into the match and mount immediate pressure on Ghana  with the aim of trashing the Black Stars with as many goals as possible,” Longe said.Sylvanus Okereke, who runs a sports shop in Johannesburg, said the Black Stars were ‘beatable’ by the Eagles.

“They should erase any fears of giving in to them. They should be confident”

Stella Emmanuel, a Nigerian gym operator, said that going by the performances of the Eagles so far in the competition, they were favourites for the trophy.