Nigeria vs Ghana

Though their names suggest friendship, Ghana and Nigeria are set to renew their heated rivalry when they meet at the Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday evening in the Unity Cup.

Matches between these West African powerhouses are always intense, with football being just one front in a long-standing battle that spans cuisine, music, and culture.

Recently on the losing end of the so-called "Jollof Derby," Ghana now has a chance to reclaim some pride after failing to win any of their last four meetings against Nigeria across all competitions.

Their winless streak began with a 2-0 defeat in the second leg of the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers—though Ghana still advanced on penalties after a 2-2 aggregate score.

Next came a 2-1 loss in a March 2023 friendly in Marrakech, followed by a disappointing CHAN double-header at the end of 2024: a goalless draw at home and a crushing 3-1 defeat in the return leg, which sealed Ghana’s elimination from the tournament.

But Otto Addo’s squad enters this friendly in strong form, having demolished Chad 5-0 before overpowering Madagascar 3-0 in World Cup qualifiers. With 15 points, Ghana leads Group I and is well on track to secure a fifth World Cup appearance—a much-needed boost after their shock failure to qualify for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Nigeria, meanwhile, booked their AFCON spot by topping their qualifying group but are struggling in World Cup qualifying. The Super Eagles risk missing back-to-back tournaments, a painful déjà vu after their 2022 World Cup exit—denied by Ghana on away goals in the playoff round.

Under new coach Eric Chelle, Nigeria’s campaign remains shaky. A promising 2-0 away win over Rwanda in his debut was dampened by a frustrating 1-1 home draw against Zimbabwe, leaving them fourth in their group and six points off the top.

Wednesday’s clash comes at a critical moment, offering both sides a chance to build momentum. Nigeria will face Russia in another friendly on June 6 before a decisive World Cup qualifying stretch in September and October, including key fixtures against Rwanda, South Africa, Lesotho, and Benin.

For Ghana, it’s an opportunity to shift the narrative; for Nigeria, a chance to steady the ship. Either way, expect fireworks.