Black Stars of Ghana head coach Otto Addo has declared that Wednesday's Unity Cup fixture against Nigeria's Super Eagles is far from a friendly encounter, despite its official classification.

The West African football giants are set to renew their historic rivalry at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, London, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 pm Nigerian time on Wednesday.

"I think everyone knows what it's about, surely, it's a friendly game, but it's not really a friendly game," Addo stated in comments published on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) website.

The Ghanaian tactician emphasized the significance of the fixture, adding: "We know what it's about, and we want our people to be proud of us. We want our people to talk from a certain perspective, and surely, it's always about who has the better team. Sometimes margins can decide the outcome of the game."

This encounter comes after Nigeria secured a 2-1 victory over Ghana in their previous friendly match held in Marrakech, Morocco last year. The Black Stars will be looking to avenge that defeat and restore pride in what has become one of Africa's most intense football rivalries.

However, Ghana will be without some key players for the match, as Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, and Antoine Semenyo have been excluded from the squad facing the Super Eagles.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles held their first training session in London in preparation for the match, with Ahmed Musa expressing delight at his return to the national team setup.

The Unity Cup fixture represents another chapter in the storied rivalry between these two footballing powerhouses, with national pride at stake despite its friendly status.