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The Black Stars of Ghana will once again lock horns with the Super Eagles of Nigeria for a 2 legged playoffs to be staged in Ghana and Nigeria. This play off will enable either Ghana or Nigeria to book a sport in the upcoming FIFA world cup. However, both teams have take a turn of each other in the past and as both the Super Eagles prepare to face the Black Stars at the Kumasi Baba Yara sports stadium this Friday for the 1st leg of the play off, Senam Radio take looks at previous clashes between both teams in world cup qualifier.
However as the Nigeria team is getting set to take up Ghana in the FIFA world cup playoff on Friday, 25th March 2022 in Kumasi, lets examines how far the Super Eagles have fared against their counterpart the Ghana Black Stars in the competition in the past.
In August 28, 1960, Ghana won by 4 goals against 1 by Nigeria. This was the first time ever in history for both Ghana and Nigeria to met in a World Cup qualifier game – and it ended on a bitter note for the Nigerian side as they were decimated in Accra with Ghana cruising to victory. Incidentally, that between against Ghana was the Super Eagles’ first attempt at qualifying for the global football showpiece after many years out in the cold trying to get their names heard.
In the five-goal thriller match between Ghana and Nigeria which was handled by England’s Arthur Holland, the Ghana Black Stars happily triumphed over Nigeria and thanks to goal scorers Edward Acquah, Edward Boateng, Aggrey Fynn and Mohamadu Salisu for Ghana. Nigeria’s alone goal was scored by Dejo Fayemi in that clash.
In September 10, 1960 was another clash between the two countries of which the Nigerian want to revenge but unfortunately, it ended up in a draw for Nigeria scoring 2 goals and Ghana also scored 2 goals as well. Having suffered their first humiliating defeat against the Ghana Black Stars in the first leg of the First Round of qualifiers, Nigeria needed a comprehensive win to the stand a good chance of qualifying for the next round of the game. This time, the battleground was then staged at the National Stadium in Lagos as Nigeria hosted the Ghanaians again for the fifth time.
With revenge on the minds of Jerry Beit Halevi’s men of the Nigeria team, they put up a good shows yet their best is yet to come and they were unable to secure a comfortable victory as Edward Acquah’s double goals for Ghana cancelled out goals from Dejo Fayemi and Godwin Enamako for the Nigerian side.
In spite of beating Nigeria and paying a draw against them, Ghana’s ambition of reaching Chile 1962 then suffered a massive blow as they were bitterly knocked out by Morocco.
In May 10, 1969 was a happy day for the Nigerian team as their awaited revenge against their counterpart Ghana have seen the day of light. The whole of Nigeria was thrown into a state of massive jubilation as Nigeria finally score 2 goals against Ghana’s alone goal to secure victory over them. For the first time in the history of Fifa World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria got the upper hand against Ghana in a bitter sweet revenge.
With the Super Eagles edging Cameroon by 4 goals to 3 on aggregate, the Supper Eagles of Nigeria were finally zoned against their arch rivals en route to qualifying for Mexico 1970.
The Sabino Barinaga’s men the cruised to victory and thanks to goals from Muyiwa Oshode and Sebastian Broderick but the Ghana Black Stars pulled one goal back through Abekah Ankrah at the Liberty Stadium in Ghana.
In May 18, 1969 was the day Ghana wanted to also revenge against Nigeria but the game ended up in a draw of which both Ghana and Nigeria scored a goal each in that clash. In this clash, Nigeria and Ghana met for the fourth time in the history of the Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
After bitterly losing 2-1 to the Nigerian side in the first leg, the Black Stars of Ghana could only managed a draw in Accra against Nigeria.
The Ghanaian player Amusa Gbadamosi put the Black Stars ahead before Sam Garba-Okoye restored parity in the second half to help Nigeria progress to the next stage 3-2 on aggregate.
Sadly, the Super Eagles were denied a maiden World Cup appearance after bitterly failing to negotiate their way past the Morocco national team and Sudan national team in the final round.
In February 10, 1973 was a day for both teams to demonstrate who was really the better side with revenge on their minds with both teams felling defeat from each others, the Ghana Black Stars once again beat their rival in a 3-2 goals against Nigeria.
This was another failed attempt for Nigeria to qualify for the World Cup, Nigeria was again paired with their rival Ghana in the Second Round after breezing past Congo in the first leg.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria then had the topmost privilege of hosting the first leg of the game at the National Stadium but it did not turn out well for them.
Ghana Black Stars were driven to victory by Kwasi Owusu’s hat-trick, cancelling out the goals from Nigeria’s Kenneth Olayombo and Yakubu Mambo.
Nevertheless, the match was also abandoned in the 87th minute of the game as fans protested against the poor officiating by Congolese referee Paul Nkounkou.
Subsequently, Caf then punished Nigeria for their action during the match while awarding two points to the Black Stars.
In February 22, 1973 was another FIFA world cup qualifying clash against Ghana which ended in a goal less draw for both Ghana and Nigeria?
Despite being at a disadvantage, Nigeria mustered courage and travelled to Accra, aiming to turn the table around to their favour.
However, the match ended on a no winner, no vanquished note in the Ghanaian capital city.
In March 11, 2001, both Ghana and Nigeria clash recorded another goal less draw from both teams.
En route to qualifying for the 2002 edition co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, Nigeria and Ghana were pooled in Group B of the final round that had Liberia, Sudan and Sierra Leone in the same Group B.The first leg that was staged at the Accra Sports Stadium ended 0-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
In July 29, 2001 was another day for massive jubilation in Nigeria as they beat Ghana by 3 goals to mone. The match was handled by the late Amodu Shaibu, and Nigeria recorded an emphatic 3-0 win in the reverse fixture against the Ghana Black Stars.
A first-half brace from Tijani Babangida plus a fine strike from Victor Agali at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, propelled Nigeria past the Ghanaians who finished fourth on the log.
Consequently, the Super Eagles picked one of Africa’s slot to the 2002 Fifa World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.
On Friday, March 25th 2022 in Kumasi at the Baba Yara sport stadium will be another day to go down into history books as both rivals Ghana and Nigeria will be in another world cup qualifying clash to secure a spot for the upcoming FIFA word cup. As they say, the eagle does not fly past the stars, will it be another turn for the Supper Eagle of Nigeria to fly pass the Black Stars of Ghana to secure another spot for the world cup?
