International Football
Titanic Clash as Nigeria Face Ghana in WAFU Cup Final
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.
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.”
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
P W D L F A
Ghana 62 23 21 18 91 68
Nigeria 62 18 21 23 68 91
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
International Football
What a twist of fate! Before now, Morocco and Algeria were allies
Despite Morocco’s historical solidarity with Algeria, the regime continues to politicize sporting events in search of opportunities to undermine Morocco’s territorial integrity.
Algeria continues to push with its obsessive tendency to undermine Morocco’s territorial integrity despite the country’s long-standing solidarity with its National Liberation Front (FLN) in international sporting events.
Last week, the Algerian regime confiscated the jerseys of a Moroccan club RS Berkane ahead of a CAF Confederation match in Algeria due to the fact that they featured a full map of Morocco.
The decision drew outrage from Moroccans and international observers who decried Algeria’s politicizing of sporting events and its constant search for opportunities to undermine Morocco’s territorial integrity.
On Saturday, Algerian journalist and political analyst, Oualid Kebir, took to social media exposing the regime’s disregard for Morocco’s historical support for the Algerian FLN in international sporting events.
Kebir highlighted Morocco’s “heroic” and “strong supportive stances” during Algerian’s challenging times during French occupation. “Morocco’s historical and heroic stance at that time is added to the honorable and strong supportive stances at that time towards Algeria,” the post read.
Kebir’s statement referred to Morocco’s Royal Football Federation (FRMF) organizing a match in 1958 against the FLN team despite the fact that the team was not recognized by FIFA. The team consisted then of French Muslim (Algerian) players who had been suspended by the French Football Federation.
FIFA’s justification at the time for punishing Morocco was due to the licensing of the FRMF clubs to play against the FLN team.
“Today, the military regime disguises ingratitude and compels Algerian clubs and sports teams to refuse to play and confront their Moroccan counterparts who display the map of Morocco on their jerseys!” Kebir wrote, decrying Algeria’s ungratefulness to Morocco’s historical support.
“This is the reward for standing with us during difficult times?!” he stressed.
Attached to the post was the official document from FIFA outlining its decision to revoke the affiliation of the FRMF due to Morocco’s authorization of its clubs to play matches against the Algerian national team, despite FIFA’s objections.
Algeria’s blatant attacks on Morocco’s sovereignty have especially peaked over the past days with the country staunchly attempting to politicize yet another sporting event.
One such event occurred during the Arab Championship this week, where the Algerian U-17 national handball team withdrew in protest of Morocco’s jersey featuring a full map of Morocco that includes its southern provinces.
After the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced RS Berkane to be the winner of the Sunday match, Algeria relentlessly appealed the decision, losing the appeal in the process.
However, the regime announced that they would take their case to a higher court, alleging that the jerseys include a political symbol.
In January 2023, Algeria orchestrated a similar attack on Morocco through the African Nations Championship (CHAN). During the tournament, the Algerian regime denied the Moroccan team the right to participate and defend their title, while using the tournament’s opening ceremony as a political platform to express support for the Polisario Front.
-Morocco World News
International Football
Grudgingly, Eto’o accepts new Cameroon coach Brys, but fails to attend ceremony
Cameroon’s new coach Marc Brys penned a contract on Monday but the Belgian’s appointment by the government remains contentious as the football federation did not attend the signing ceremony.
Brys has been handed a 2-1/2-year contract by Cameroon’s sports ministry but the federation (FECAFOOT) was conspicuous by its absence at the event in Yaounde.
Last week, FECAFOOT criticised the unilateral decision of sports minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombito to appoint the 61-year-old Brys, who has no prior experience as a national team coach and has not previously worked on the African continent.
FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o issued a statement on Monday, excusing himself from the unveiling event.
“We thank you for inviting us to the ceremony. Following this, we inform you of the fact that we received the letter two hours before the said ceremony,” wrote Eto’o.
“Unfortunately, we are busy organising the funeral of our late Dad, and for this reason we will not be able to attend presence at the ceremony.”
His father’s funeral is to be held at the weekend.
Eto’o balked at Brys’ appointment and is now in a deepening standoff with the minister.
In Cameroon, the government has long paid the salary of the national team coach and therefore held powerful sway over FECAFOOT’s affairs, even if such state interference is frowned upon by world football’s governing body FIFA.
Any heightened dispute risks a potential ban from international competition for Cameroon, one of the heavyweights of African football.
FECAFOOT held an emergency meeting on Saturday and asked Eto’o to propose an alternative coach for the national team.
Earlier on the weekend, the minister had defended the appointment, saying he had acted in accordance with national and international regulations.
In a letter to FECAFOOT, Kombi said his ministry’s appointment of coaching staff “in no way affects the autonomy of FECAFOOT and does not violate any of the ‘supranational regulations”.
He said FECAFOOT had suggested three candidates to the ministry but their salary demands ranged between 1.5 million euros and 2.5 million euros ($1.63 million and $2.71 million) per year.
“These are excessive amounts never paid to any coach in the history of the Indomitable Lions,” Kombi said.
-Reuters
International Football
Cameroon FA to propose national coach after emergency meeting –
Cameroon’s football federation (FECAFOOT) held an emergency meeting on Saturday and asked its president to propose an alternative coach for the national team, deepening a standoff with the sports ministry.
FECAFOOT on Wednesday accused the ministry of unilaterally appointing Belgian Marc Brys as coach and other staff to manage the Indomitable Lions, who are five-times African champions.
The dispute risks a potential ban from international competition as world soccer’s governing body FIFA has strict rules against government interference in national federations.
In a statement, FECAFOOT said its emergency committee had met on Saturday and unanimously confirmed that the federation had not been involved in the appointments in alleged contravention of regulations.
As a result, it asked its president Samuel Eto’o to propose a national coach and other management staff for the national side within 72 hours.
Responding to a request for comment, a spokesperson for the ministry said the result of the FECAFOOT meeting was “an appeal. It is not yet a decision.”
On Friday, Sports Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi wrote to FECAFOOT to defend the coaching appointments, which he said were in accordance with national and international rules.
In a letter seen by Reuters, Kombi said the ministry’s move “in no way affects the autonomy of FECAFOOT and does not violate any of the ‘supranational regulations’.”
A spokesperson for the ministry confirmed the authenticity of the letter.
Kombi’s letter also said the salaries requested by three candidates earlier proposed by the federation for the position of coach ranged between 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) and 2.5 million euros per year.
“These are excessive amounts never paid to any coach in the history of the Indomitable Lions,” Kombi said.
FECAFOOT did not respond to a request for comment on the letter.
-Reuters
RELATED STORIES:
BREAKING! Turmoil in Cameroon federation over naming of new national coach Brys. https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2024/04/03/breaking-turmoil-in-cameroon-federation-over-naming-of-new-national-coach-brys/
Soccer Cameroon appoint Brys as new head coach https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2024/04/03/soccer-cameroon-appoint-brys-as-new-head-coach/
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