Featured
Besides breaking recent chains of loses to Ghana, Super Eagles have all to play for in 60th match with arch rivals –
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
No other team in the world has as much fixtures with Nigeria than Ghana. Both have met 59 times across different competitions and for a very long time.
The Friday match at the Stade de Marrakech, the world’s first ever rectangular-shaped stadium with elliptical running tracks, will be the 60th encounter of Nigeria and Ghana.
It will also be the first national team handling for both coaches.
Finidi George debuts as an interim coach for the Super Eagles, Addo Atto debuts as full-time handler for the Ghana Black Stars.
Both therefore have points to make in the prestige-boosting match-up. More importantly, the Nigerian side, very familiar with the Marrakech stadium having played some away qualifying matches there in the frame of AFCON 2023, will be attempting to break a chain of invincibility surrounding recent matches with Ghana.
Nigeria last beat Ghana 18 years ago during the Ghana 2006 Afcon. In six successive matches, Ghana either beat the Super Eagles or the match is drawn.
Often recalled is the Nigeria elimination from the 2022 World Cup by Ghana. This is then followed up with the Nigerian home-based team elimination from the qualifiers for African Nations Championships (CHAN) by Ghana.
Last year, Nigeria’s team in the CAF Champions League, Remo Stars were eliminated in a penalty shoot-out by Ghana’s Medeama.
Seven months ago, Nigeria’s Delta Queens failed to qualify for the 3rd edition of the CAF Women Champions League. after losing to Ghana’s Amem Daroa.
The chain of loses began in a 6 February 2007 match at the Griffin Park in London. It was Austin Eguavoen’s last match in his first stint as Super Eagles’ handler.
The next day, a new helmsman, Berti Vogts was unveiled. The 4-1 defeat caused Nigeria’s biggest fall in FIFA ranking, dropping from ninth position to 20 to begin a gradual descent.
Ghana’s invincibility will be further stretched if the Super Eagles fail to win on Friday.
NIGERIA, GHANA IN HISTORY
- 20 0ct 1951 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 5 Ghana 0
- 11 Oct 1953 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0
- 30 Oct 1954 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0
- 30 Oct 1955 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 7 Nigeria 0
- 27 Oct 1956 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0
- 27 Oct 1957 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 3 Nigeria 3
- 25 Oct 1958 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 2
- 10 Oct 1959 (Olympics Qualifier): Nigeria 3 Ghana 1
- 26 Oct 1959 (Olympics Qualifier): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1
- 22 Nov 1959 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 5 Nigeria 2
- 28 Aug 1960 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1
- 10 Sep 1960 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2
- 9 Oct 1960 (Nkrumah Cup): Nigeria 0 Ghana 3
- 29 Oct 1960 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 1 Ghana 1
- 8 Apr 1961 (AFCON Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0
- 30 Apr 1961 (AFCON Qualifier): Ghana 2 Nigeria 2
- 17 Dec 1961 (Friendly): Ghana 5 Nigeria 1
- 10 Nov 1962 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0
- 23 Feb 1963 (Nkrumah Cup); Ghana 5 Nigeria 0
- 30 Oct 1965 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 0 Ghana 4
- 7 Nov 1965 (Zik Cup): Ghana 3 Nigeria 0
- 23 Jan 1967 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2
- 12 Feb 1967 (Zik Cup): Ghana 2 Nigeria 0
- 22 Oct 1967 (Zik Cup):Ghana 2 Nigeria 1
- 23 Dec 1967 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2
- 10 May 1969 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 1
- 18 May 1969 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 1
- 8 Jan 1973 (All-Africa Games): Nigeria 4 Ghana 2
- 10 Feb 1973 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 3 – abandoned, match awarded 2-0 to Ghana
- 25 Feb 1973 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0
- 11 Aug 1974 (Festival): Nigeria 1 Ghana 0
- 17 Aug 1974 (Festival): Nigeria 0 Ghana 1
- 24 Aug 1975 (Festival): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2
- 30 Aug 1975 (Festival): Ghana 3 Nigeria 0
- 4 Sep 1977 (Ecowas Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 1
- 8 Mar 1978 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 1
- 21 July 1978 (All-Africa Games): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0
- 1 May 1983 (ECA Anniversary): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0
- 15 Oct 1983 (Olympics Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0
- 30 Oct 1983 (Olympics Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2
- 5 Mar 1984 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2
- 27 July 1986 (Friendly): Ghana 2 Nigeria 0
- 2 Sep 1990 (AFCON Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0
- 13 Apr 1991 (AFCON Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0
- 23 Jan 1992 (AFCON): Ghana 2 Nigeria 1
- 9 Mar 1994 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0
- 28 Aug 1999 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0
- 11 Mar 2001 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0
- 29 July 2001 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0
- 3 Feb 2002 (AFCON): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1
- 15 Dec 2002 (Friendly): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1
- 30 May 2003 (LG Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 1
- 23 Jan 2006 (AFCON): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1
- 6 Feb 2007 (Friendly): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1
- 3 Feb 2008 (AFCON): Ghana 2 Nigeria 1
- 28 Jan 2010 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0
- 11 Oct 2011 (Friendly): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0
- 25 Mar 2022 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0
- 29 Mar 2022 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 1 Ghana 1
No fewer than five clubs in the Nigeria Premier League will be eliminated this week from the President Federation Cup.
At the moment, 11 of the 17 premier league clubs are on course as the knock-out competition gets to the Round of 32.
Undoubtedly, the non-application of seeding has seen five fixtures pitching the top clubs together while another five pitched lower division clubs against one another.
The remaining six pairings have premier league clubs facing lower ranked teams. These include: relegation-threatened Akwa United facing Zamfara United in Abuja and Gombe United facing former top division sides, El-Kanemi Warriors in Kaduna.
Another ‘mixed fixture’ will see Premier sides, Kwara United facing Warri Wolves while Abia Warriors will face Sporting Supreme of the FCT.
Premier sides, Bendel Insurance will face Wikki Tourists of Bauchi as Enyimba are pitched against Akwa Ibom’s FC Rockets.
But nothing is guaranteed to the Premier League sides as knockout competitions are replete with underdogs upstaging power houses.
No matter the situations, five of the Premier League are doomed for elimination. Former champions Lobi Stars and Shooting Stars in a “Star War” in Awka.
Plateau United and Sunshine Stars are meeting in Abuja just as Rivers United will face fellow Premier League sides, Niger Tornadoes in Auchi.
Katsina United and Bayelsa United will play in Abuja while Doma United face Kano Pillars in Bauchi.
MEN’S ROUND OF 32 FIXTURES
Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) – Abuja Area 3 – 22/05/24 – 4pm
EFCC FC (FCT) Vs Edel FC (Anambra) – Ilorin – 22/05/24 – 4pm
ABS FC (Kwara) Vs Kebbi United (Kebbi) – Abuja Goal Project – 23/05/24 – 4pm
Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Zamfara United Feeders (Zamfara) – Abuja Bwari – 23/05/24 – 4pm
Gombe United (Gombe) Vs El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) – Kaduna – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Lobi Stars (Benue) Vs Shooting Stars (Oyo) – Awka – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Coal City (Enugu) – Benin City – 23/05/24 – 4pm
Hammola Int’l (Osun) Vs Inter Lagos (Lagos) – Ibadan – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Kwara United (Kwara) – Enugu – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Abia Warriors (Abia) Vs Sporting Supreme (FCT) – Benin City – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Sokoto United (Sokoto) – Kano – 22/05/24 – 4pm
FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom) Vs Enyimba FC (Abia) – Yenagoa – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Sunshine Stars (Ondo) – Abuja Goal Project – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Rivers United (Rivers) Vs Niger Tornadoes (Niger) – Auchi – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Katsina United (Katsina) Vs Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) – Abuja Bwari – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Doma United (Gombe) Vs Kano Pillars (Kano) – Bauchi – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Banyana Banyana game plan was to either beat the Super Falcons at home as they did two years ago in Lagos or earn a draw in Friday’s first leg match of Olympic qualifier in Abuja.
That did not happen as Rasheedat Ajibade’s penalty kick earned Nigeria an outright 1-0 win over South Africa – a first win since the Super Falcons’ 1-0 win in Limbe, Cameroon in 2016.
But according to an account in the South African Football Association website, “Banyana Banyana will have to give it all in the second leg.”
It reported that Banyana Banyana came back from the first half break a much more improved side but failed to convert the few chances that came their way.
“Outstanding goalkeeper Kaylin Swart had to work overtime to deny the hosts from extending their lead.
“Despite creating numerous chances for an equaliser, the game ended 1-0 for the Super Falcons.”
The two African giants will lock horns for the second leg on Tuesday at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria where coach Desiree Ellis’ charges will be hoping to overturn the deficit.
Coach Ellis believes they are still in the game and can turn things around in the second leg on Tuesday.
“Look, we said it was going to be a tight game but we are hopeful of overturning this result in the second leg.”
“We are still in the game. We created a couple of chances, a penalty decided the match but the game is not over.
“I thought in the second half we raised our game a lot and created good chances and could have equalized.
“Maybe we could also have gotten a penalty at the end when Jermaine was fouled but I’m very proud of the team and we will take it back to Pretoria,” said Ellis.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons beat Banyana Banyana of South Africa 1-0 in their first leg of the final qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The return leg comes up on Tuesday in Pretoria.
The South Africans consider the result a good one going into the final qualifier.
Skipper of the side, Rasheedat Ajibade scored the lone goal from a penalty spot in the 43rd minute.
It is Nigeria’s first outright defeat of South Africa since 2018 when Nigeria excelled in an ensuing penalty shootout after a goalless draw in the final match of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.
In their next two matches.
First, they pulled off a big upset beating Nigeria 4-2 to win the Aisha Buhari Cup in Lagos in September 2021 and followed up with another 2-1 win in a Group C match at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
NFF Communication director unfolds 20 Points of a 20-hour ordeal on Libyan soil
African football legends, Adebayor and Aubameyang condemn Libya’s treatment of Super Eagles
BREAKING! CAF wades into the Libya-Nigeria Airport episode
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
Uncategorized1 week ago
Players boycott Libyan national team
-
AFCON4 days ago
Billiat’s penalty seals Zimbabwe’s 1-0 win over Namibia
-
AFCON1 week ago
Eguavoen unfolds Super Eagles’ squad for back-to-back duel with Libya
-
AFCON6 days ago
Facts & Figures as AFCON 2025 qualifiers enter Matchday 3
-
AFCON6 days ago
AFCON 2025 in Morocco: Everything you need to know
-
AFCON5 days ago
Libya’s captain, Faisal Al-Badri alleges poor treatment in Nigeria
-
Uncategorized7 days ago
CAF compels Kwasi Appiah to step down from Ghana FA
-
Uncategorized1 week ago
Fastest World Cup final scorer is dead!