'A great opponent with quality players' - Arsenal star Partey praises Super Eagles ahead of WC playoff

Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Thursday, Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey praised the Super Eagles, labeling the national team a quality side, but underlined that the Black Stars are ready for tomorrow's 2022 World Cup playoff in Kumasi.

Partey is expected to take up the role as captain of the Black Stars in both matches against Nigeria in the absence of substantive skipper Andre Ayew who is unavailable for selection due to suspension.

The Gunners star knows a thing or two about the Nigeria side having come up against the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Ademola Lookman, Emmanuel Dennis and Ola Aina in the Premier League, as well as Samuel Chukwueze and Kenneth Omeruo  in La Liga during his time in Spain with Atlético de Madrid.

On what Ghanaians should expect from the Black Stars tomorrow, Partey said : "We have a lot of big talents, young players coming up and I know Ghanaians demand a lot from us, we are going to give our best tomorrow.

"We believe each other, I believe in the team, I believe in the coach, the system we want to play. We are ready for them."

Partey was with the Black Stars at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where they failed to win a single game in one of the worst performances by a Ghanaian team in a major tournament.

The Super Eagles had a better showing in the group stage, winning all their three matches, before a narrow 1-0 loss to Tunisia in the round of 16.

Partey expects the mentality to be different against the Super Eagles with a place at the 2022 World Cup at stake.

"Now we have an opportunity to qualify for the World Cup. We are going to face a  great opponent with quality players.

"As the coach said we have a plan, we want to play as a team, we want to develop this team to be able to achieve greater things. We want to concentrate in this game, try to do our best.

"Everyone that will be on the pitch will give 100 percent," Partey added.

In their last five matches, Nigeria have won three and drawn one with the other game ending in defeat, while their opponent on Friday, Ghana lost three games, drew one and won one.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel