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Titanic Clash as Nigeria Face Ghana in WAFU Cup Final

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

It may not be a classic in a normal continental fixture, but a clash of Nigeria’s selected side against their Ghanaian counterparts evoke passion any day.

The final match of the revived WAFU Nations Cup on Sunday will therefore not be an exception even if the two countries are not featuring their best known talents.

Sports Village Square recalls that beyond the quest to win the WAFU Cup, national honour is at stake as clashes of both sides evoke passion since the first encounter 66 years ago in the then Jalco Cup played annually till 1959.

Even though the recent encounters seem to skew in favour of Nigeria, Ghana won most matches overall. This Sunday’s clash will be the 63rd involving national selections of both sides at Grade A or B encounters.

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Sunday’s match is at Grade B level as it involved limited selections of players in the domestic league. Nine years ago when both first clashed at limited selection stage – the inaugural African Nations Championship qualification series, Ghana prevailed as Nigeria let off an initial two goal lead in Accra to lose 2-3.

In the return leg played in Calabar, Nigeria could only manage a goalless draw and crashed out on 2-3 aggregate.

Three years later at a WAFU Cup clash in Abeokuta, South West Nigeria, the Nigerian team won 2-1. When both clashed at the semi-finals of African Nations Championship in South Africa three years ago, Ghana prevailed in 4-1 in an ensuing penalty shootout after regulation and extra time score line stood at 0-0. But last week, the Nigerian team B side beat Ghana 2-0 in a Group A encounter of the current WAFU Cup.

Ghana, besides playing on home soil, will naturally be aiming for a revenge on Sunday. This, the Nigerian coach, Salisu Yusuf seems to know. According to a media statement from the NFF Media Department, Salisu Yusuf, is not perturbed: “We know what they will be up to and what they will be ready to give to take the trophy. We are more than ready to confront them and give them more than they expect.

“The Super Eagles have become used to winning, from winning the CHAN ticket to conquering Sierra Leone and even Ghana here to reach the final, and we cannot stop now. We want that winning mentality to remain all the way to the CHAN finals early next year.”

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  Even though the WAFU Cup could have served as dress rehearsal for the Nigerian side ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations holding in January, information at the disposal of Sports Village Square indicates that most of the current players may no longer be eligible as they are at the brink of signing overseas contracts.

 

 

 

                  GHANA – NIGERIA:  Head-to-Head

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P        W        D        L         F        A

Ghana         62       23        21       18       91       68

Nigeria        62       18        21        23      68        91

 

 

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20 Oct.1951 (JalcoCup) Nigeria 5-0 Ghana

11 Oct.1953 (JalcoCup) Ghana 1-0 Nigeria

30 Oct.1954 (JalcoCup) Nigeria 3-0 Ghana

30 Oct.1955 (JalcoCup) Ghana 7-0 Nigeria

27Oct.1956 (JalcoCup) Nigeria 3-0 Ghana

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27Oct.1957 (JalcoCup) Ghana 3 -3 Nigeria

25 Oct.1958 (JalcoCup) Nigeria 3-2 Ghana

10 Oct. 1959 (OQ.) Nigeria 3 -1   Ghana

26 Oct. 1959 (OQ.) Ghana 4-1     Nigeria

22 Nov.1959 (JalcoCup) Ghana 5 -2 Nigeria

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28 Aug. 1960 (WCq) Ghana 4-1    Nigeria

10 Sept. 1960 (WCq) Nigeria 2 -2 Ghana

9Oct.1960 (Nkrumah Cup) Nigeria 0-3 Ghana

29 Oct.1960 (Zik Cup) Nigeria 1-1 Ghana

8 April. 1961 (ACNq) Nigeria 0 -0 Ghana

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30 Apr. 1961 (ACNq) Ghana 2-2 Nigeria

17 Dec. 1961 (F) Ghana 5 -1    Nigeria

10 Nov.1962 (F) Nigeria 0 -0       Ghana

23Feb.1963 (Nkrumah Cup) Ghana 5-0 Nigeria

30 Oct.1965 (Zik Cup) Nigeria 0-4 Ghana

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7 Nov.1965 (Zik Cup) Ghana 3-0 Nigeria

28 Jan.1967 (Zik Cup) Nigeria 2-2 Ghana

12 Feb.1967 (Zik Cup) Ghana 2-0 Nigeria

22 Oct.1967 (Zik Cup)         Ghana 2-1 Nigeria

23 Dec1967 (Zik Cup) Nigeria 2 -2 Ghana

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10 May 1969 (WCq) Nigeria 2-1 Ghana

18 May 1969 (WCq) Ghana 1-1 Nigeria

8 Jan.1973 (2AAG.) Nigeria 4-2 Ghana

10 Feb. 1973 (WCq) Nigeria 2-3 Ghana

*Awarded 2- 0 to Ghana

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25 Feb. 1973 (WCq) Ghana 0-0 Nigeria

11 Aug. 1974 (Festival) Nigeria 1-1 Ghana

17 Aug. 1974 (Festival) Nigeria 0-1 Ghana

24 Aug1975 (Festival) Ghana 1-2 Nigeria

30 Aug.1975 (Festival) Ghana 3-0 Nigeria

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4 Sept.1977 (Ecowas) Nigeria 2-1 Ghana

8 Mar. 1978 (ACN)    Ghana 1-1 Nigeria

21 July 1978 (3AAG) Ghana 0-0 Nigeria

1 May1983 (ECA.anniv) Ghana1-0 Nigeria

15 Oct. 1983 (OQ.)   Nigeria 0 -0 Ghana

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30 Oct. 1983 (OQ.)    Ghana 1-2 Nigeria

5 March 1984(ACN) Ghana 1-2 Nigeria

27 Jul. 1986 (F)          Ghana 2 -0 Nigeria

2 Sept.1990 (ACNq)   Ghana 1-0 Nigeria

13 April 1991 (ACNq) Nigeria 0-0 Ghana

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23 Jan. 1992 (ACN)    Ghana 2-1 Nigeria

9 March 1994 (F)        Nigeria 0-0 Ghana

28 Aug. 1999 (F)        Nigeria 0-0 Ghana

11 Mar. 2001(WCq) Ghana 0-0   Nigeria

29 Jul.2001 (WCq)      Nigeria 3-0 Ghana

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3 Feb. 2002 (ACN)      Ghana 0-1 Nigeria

15 Dec. 2002 (F)          Ghana 0-1 Nigeria

30 May 2003 (LG Cup) Nigeria 3-1 Ghana

23 Jan. 2006 (ACN)    Ghana 0-1 Nigeria

6 Feb 2007 (F)            Ghana 4-1 Nigeria

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3 Feb 2008 (ACN)       Ghana 2-1 Nigeria

30 Nov. 2008 (Chan q) Ghana 3-2 Nigeria

14 Dec. 2008 (Chan q) Nigeria 0-0 Ghana

28 Jan. 2010 (ACN) Ghana 1-0 Nigeria

12 May 2011 (WAFU) Nigeria 2-1 Ghana

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11 Oct. 2011 (F)           Ghana 0-0 Nigeria

29 Jan. 2014 (Chan)  Ghana 0-0 Nigeria (aet; 4-1 pso)

18 Sept 2017 (WAFU) Ghana 0-2 Nigeria

 

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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International Football

Former Brazil coach Tite taking break to take care of mental, physical health

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Brasileiro Championship - Gremio v Flamengo - Arena do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil - September 22, 2024 Flamengo coach Tite REUTERS/Diego Vara/File Photo

Former Brazil coach Tite said he is taking an indefinite career break in order to take care of his mental and physical health.

The 63-year-old, who led Brazil to the 2019 Copa America title, was hospitalised due to a heart issue last August. He was sacked by Flamengo the following month and had most recently been linked with the Corinthians job.

“I realised that there are times when you have to understand that, as a human being, I can be vulnerable and admitting that will certainly make me stronger,” Tite said in a statement posted on his son Matheus Bachi’s Instagram on Tuesday.

“I’m passionate about what I do and I’ll continue to be so, but after talking to my family and observing the signals my body was giving off, I decided that the best thing to do now is to take a break from my career to look after myself for as long as it takes.

“As has become public, there was a conversation in progress with Corinthians, but it will have to be paralysed by a difficult but necessary decision.”

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Tite, who stepped down as Brazil coach after their quarter-final exit from the 2022 World Cup, has previously coached a string of Brazilian sides including Gremio, Atletico Mineiro and Palmeiras.

-Reuters

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Brazil sack coach Dorival after humiliating loss to Argentina

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World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Brazil - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 25, 2025 Brazil coach Dorival Junior is seen before the match REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo

Brazil have sacked head coach Dorival Jr, the country’s football confederation (CBF) said on Friday after the five-time world champions were thrashed 4-1 away to fierce rivals Argentina in a humiliating qualifying loss in Buenos Aires.

The 62-year-old was appointed in January 2024 after the team spent a year under two caretaker coaches as the Brazilian FA were unable to lure Italian Carlo Ancelotti from Real Madrid.

“The Brazilian Football Confederation informs that coach Dorival Jr is no longer in charge of the Brazilian national team,” the confederation said in a statement.

“The management thanks (Dorival) and wishes him success in continuing his career … the CBF will work to find his replacement,” it added.

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Dorival was handed the job after his success with Flamengo in 2022 where he won the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Cup, a trophy he lifted again the next year with Sao Paulo.

However, he never seemed to get to grips with the national team job and failed to earn the trust of Brazil’s demanding fans after winning only seven of his 16 games in charge.

Sources told Reuters the CBF was not confident in Dorival’s work, considering there had been little to no progress since a lacklustre Copa America campaign when Brazil were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Uruguay last year.

Still, the CBF was willing to wait and see until the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay in June to reassess the situation following the end of the European season and the Club World Cup in the U.S. in June and July.

But after Brazil slumped to their heaviest-ever loss in a qualifier when they were thrashed by Argentina this week, CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues decided to pull the trigger.

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Sources told Reuters Ancelotti was still the ideal candidate but he is under contract with Real until July 2026 and there is no indication he would leave the European and Spanish champions.

Brazilian media have reported that Al Hilal’s Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus is the favourite to replace Dorival.

Brazil have been in unfamiliar territory for over two years since crashing out of the 2022 World Cup against Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals, a heartbreaking elimination that led to the exit of long-time manager Tite.

Their humbling defeat in Buenos Aires was the latest of a series of negative records Brazil have set under caretakers Ramon Menezes and Fernando Diniz and with Dorival in charge. They had never conceded four goals in a World Cup qualifier.

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Brazil are in the midst of their worst-ever World Cup qualifying campaign. They are fourth in the South American standings with 21 points, a point above sixth-placed Colombia who currently occupy the final direct qualifying berth.

Never have Brazil lost so many games, conceded so many goals or set so many negative records in the qualifying competition. They have lost five of their 14 games and conceded 16 goals.

Brazil’s 1-0 defeat by Argentina in the Maracana late in 2023 was their first-ever qualifying loss on home soil.

They also lost to Colombia for the first time, saw the end of their unbeaten run against Uruguay stretching back over two decades and were defeated by Morocco and Senegal, having never previously lost to an African nation.

-Reuters

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England’s German manager Tuchel will not sing the English anthem in his first game

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England manager Thomas Tuchel said he would have to “earn the right” to sing the national anthem, God Save the King, after announcing his 26-man squad on Friday ahead of the team’s World Cup qualifiers.

Tuchel, who was appointed as Gareth Southgate’s successor in October and named his first squad to face Albania and Latvia this month, said he would not sing the anthem in his first games in charge.

“It means a lot to me, I can assure you, but I can feel that because it is so meaningful and it is so emotional and it is so powerful, the national anthem, that I have to earn my right to sing it,” the 51-year-old German told a news conference.

Former caretaker manager Lee Carsley was criticised last year for not singing the anthem during his tenure.

However, Tuchel added that while he is proud to be in charge of the team and knows the words to the anthem, he plans to earn the right with results.

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“Maybe I have to dive more into the culture and earn my right from you, from the players, from the supporters, so everyone feels like ‘he should sing it now, he’s one of our own, he’s the English manager, he should sing it’,” he said.

-Reuters

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