Nigeria vs Ghana: A Brief History of One of Africa’s Biggest Football Rivalries

• Nigeria vs Ghana is one of the biggest football rivalries in the world
• The two African giants meet this week in a friendly clash in Morocco
• This iconic fixture has given us glorious matches since the 1950s

Ghana and Nigeria meet in an international friendly this week, looking to reignite their bitter rivalry.

The two West African giants had different 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaigns earlier this year and meet for the first time since the heated 1-1 draw in the 2022 World Cup qualifier.

This fixture, popularly known as "Jollof Derby", has a long history, and whenever they meet, few matches can match the atmosphere and hatred in this clash.

For decades, this exciting rivalry has been all about one-upmanship, with both sets of fans trying to claim they're the better side.

India vs Pakistan cricket. Which is the better country when it comes to cricket and why?

Cricket

It is difficult to fathom that the Black Stars have not tasted AFCON glory in nearly half a century. The Super Eagles have enjoyed success recently but have flattered to deceive in the last decade.

This match is more than a football rivalry. Culture is always on the line when they meet. Who has the best Jollof Rice and who created Afrobeats are some of the talking points.

Ghana vs Nigeria: Early years

This bitter rivalry, according to Al Jazeera, started in the 1950s, but their hatred for one another peaked in the late 1960s due to political decisions in the two nations.

They have met more than 45 times over the years, and the 2022 World Cup qualifier is the latest competitive match between them.

In the early years of this fixture, Ghana were the more dominant side. The Black Stars won the first five friendly matches against Nigeria.

Best American Football team: Which is the best American Squad for the upcoming World Cup

Football

In 1960 and 1972, Ghana beat Nigeria in World Cup qualifiers, but the 1972 match was abandoned with five minutes remaining after fan violence.

Ghana's 1960 win was their first competitive victory over Nigeria. Seven of the next 11 matches ended in a draw.

By 1982, Ghana had won four AFCON titles while Nigeria had one. However, 1982 was the last time the Black Stars lifted the continental crown. The Super Eagles won in 1994 and 2013.

Nigeria's Golden Generation

Nigeria had arguably the best squad in Africa in the 1990s. Jay-Jay Okocha, Taribo West, Rashidi Yekini, Finidi George, Daniel Amokachi, Emmanuel Amuneke, and many others were part of the star-studded squad.

In the 1994 AFCON final, they beat Zambia, led by the legendary Kalusha Bwalya in the final to taste their first continental success. They didn't participate in the 1996 and 1998 AFCON for political reasons.

Their Golden Generation also beat Argentina in the final of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta to win gold. They were the first African nation to win gold in football at the Olympic Games. Cameroon matched it four years later, per FIFA.

Best Asian Football team: Which is the best Asian squad for the upcoming World Cup and why?

Football

World Cup success

The Super Eagles qualified for their first World Cup in 1994; for 12 years, they taunted the Black Stars about it.

Ghana finally qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2006. Both teams were eliminated in the second round of their World Cup debuts.

The Black Stars produced an epic performance in 2010 in South Africa, reaching the quarter-final before a painful defeat against Uruguay. The farthest Nigeria have reached is the Round of 16, per The Athletic.

In 2022, the two sides faced off in a heated two-legged World Cup qualifier in March 2022. Both matches ended in draws. It was marred in violence as Ghana reached the World Cup. Nigerians were happy when Ghana were eliminated at the group stage.

Nigerians had a bittersweet 2023 AFCON. Whilst Ghana's early exit was satisfying, losing in the final to Ivory Coast was heartbreaking.

Best African Football team: Which is the best African squad for the upcoming World Cup and why?

Football

They also met in epic World Cup qualifiers in 1960, 1969, 1973, and 2001.

This fixture has been close since 1950, with neither team exerting total dominance over the other. This rivalry still has so much to give in the coming years.

Nigeria's top players

Sports Brief earlier ranked Nigeria's top players in Europe this season ahead of their friendly against Ghana.

Napoli striker, African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen and Bayer Leverkusen star Victor Boniface headlined the list.