Nigeria, winner of the only previous edition in the year 2004, will seek to retain their title against the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica in a potentially explosive Unity Cup Invitational Tournament final match at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium in west London on Saturday evening.

This year’s tournament has delivered handsomely on the sporting, cultural and friendship platforms, fulfilling most of the objectives of the organizers for different races in the United Kingdom to bond better and experience cutting-edge entertainment in an atmosphere of sheer euphoria and no-strings-attached camaraderie.

Neither the Reggae Boyz nor the Super Eagles had it easy making it into the final, as they were stretched to the limit by the Soca Warriors and the Black Stars respectively. The Boyz led 2-0 against the Warriors, only to see their opponents draw level, and had to wait for a fortuitous added-time penalty to emerge victorious.

The Eagles also led 2-0, after only 19 minutes, and looked to be coasting to a resounding win, only to take their feet off the pedal. Ghana’s youthful ensemble, led by the veteran Jordan Ayew, had the momentum for much of the second half, and after a well-taken goal by Brandon Thomas Asante, came very close to netting the equalizer in added time, only for goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to rise to the occasion.

The stands at Gtech on Saturday evening will be a sea of green-and-white and yellow-and-black, but more than that, a festival of dancing, drumming, high decibel-singing and competitive spirit in an exhilarating atmosphere are guaranteed. Off the pitch, a lot of wrist-pumping and chest-bumping will be in motion.

Nigeria’s victory over bitter regional rivals Ghana on Wednesday was identical to their win over the same opponents in a friendly match in the Moroccan city of Marrakech in March last year, and even saw Cyriel Dessers, who scored the first against the Stars 10 months ago, doing the same on Wednesday with greater poise.

On Saturday, Coach Eric Chelle will not only be looking for a third win in four matches for three-time African champions Nigeria. The prospect of holding a trophy after only four matches in charge makes it more appealing.     

Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Waliu Ojetoye and Junior Nduka, midfielder Saviour Isaac and forwards Tolu Arokodare, Nathan Tella and Adamu Abubakar who sat out the win over Ghana will be hopeful of getting minutes, alongside Germany-based wing-back Felix Agu, now cleared to represent Nigeria. Former junior international Benjamin Frederick, called up in place of the absent Christantus Uche, will also be hopeful of seeing action at some point.

Nigeria and Jamaica enlivened the city of Kingston in a memorable 2-2 draw in a friendly match prior to the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals in France.

The Super Eagles continued their unbeaten streak against the Black Stars. The Ghana Black Stars last beat the Nigeria Super Eagles in 2010.

Both teams again ignited an electric atmosphere at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford on Wednesday, with the Super Eagles coming out top in a sweet 2-1 victory that sent them into Saturday’s final. It made it five times in a row that Ghana have been unable to secure a victory over their West African rivals.

 A rapturous evening in West London began at a frenetic pace, with Cyriel Dessers asking hard questions of the Ghanaian defence, and it was not long before he got his reward.

 In the 14^th minute, defender Sodiq Ismaila darted to the right wing and sent the ball into the box, and Dessers took full advantage of a defender who slipped while trying to clear the ball, chested down brilliantly and fired past goalkeeper Benjamin Asare.

Five minutes later, another audacious move resulted in another goal. Samuel Chukwueze sent the ball into the box from a free-kick 25 yards out, and defender Semi Ajayi’s header saw the ball deflected off the body of a defender to wrongfoot Asare for Nigeria’s second.

Now in the ascendancy, the Super Eagles could have increased the tally two minutes later, but the exciting Dessers saw his cross into the box begging for connection.

A roar went out from the large Ghanaian population in the stadium when goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a mistake while trying to kick the ball to defender Igoh Ogbu, but the South Africa-based safe hands made a one-handed save to parry the resulting effort away from goal.

Asare denied Sikiru Alimi in the 32^nd minute, and at the other end, the Remo Stars’ forward was on hand to head the ball to safety as Ghana launched with a free-kick from the left.

Skipper Jordan Ayew was a thorn in the Eagles’ flesh throughout the second half, with deft touches that left the Super Eagles’ defenders flummoxed at times, and his combination with Christopher Bonsu Baah and Brandon Thomas Asante eventually produced the Black Stars’ only goal with 20 minutes left. Ayew came pretty close to netting the equaliser in the 77^th minute but missed the target.  

Nigeria will square up to Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz in Saturday’s final, while the Black Stars take on the Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago in the third-place match starting at 12.30 pm.

Jamaica edged another thrilling game on Tuesday, beating the Soca Warriors 3-2 with a penalty kick in added time, and will file out against the Super Eagles at 5 pm on Saturday.  

Three-time African champions Nigeria and four-time champions Ghana will bring alive the Unity Cup Invitational Tournament in London on Wednesday when both regional rivals clash in the second semi-final of a tournament of immense cultural and sporting relevance.

Both teams bring a number of critical elements into the encounter taking place at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, including a 74-year rivalry in which Ghana have smiled more than Nigeria, but either team has felt like they lost a World War 3 whenever results did not go their way.

Until March last year, when they won a friendly match against the Black Stars 2-1 in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, thanks to goals from Cyriel Dessers and Ademola Lookman, the Super Eagles had not beaten their West African foes in 18 years. That was when Taye Taiwo’s shot from a free-kick outside the box condemned the Black Stars to defeat in a group phase encounter in Port Said, at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Black Stars won the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification pitching both teams together, on the away goal rule, and retain the bragging rights of the biggest win in their clashes – a 7-0 spanking of then Red Devils in a Jalco Cup match in Accra on 30^th October 1955. Ghana also won the two teams’ only previous clash at Brentford, running away 4-1 victors in a friendly encounter on 6^th February 2007.

However, the Super Eagles have equally had their day in the sun, such as the 3-0 trashing of the Black Stars in Port Harcourt to earn passage to the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals, and eliminating the Cup holders from the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations.

Wednesday’s clash in west London is another opportunity for the Super Eagles to prove their mettle, with Head Coach Eric Chelle having called an interesting blend of home-based talent and boys based overseas.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is expected to be in goal, with Semi Ajayi, Felix Agu, Sodiq Ismaila, Igoh Ogbu, Bruno Onyemaechi, Junior Nduka, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi and Waliu Ojetoye available for slots in the defence, and Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi, Papa Daniel Mustapha, Saviour Isaac and Collins Ogwueze tugging for the midfield shirts. Christantus Uche was yet to arrive in the team’s Doubletree By Hilton Ealing abode as at Tuesday evening.

Ahmed Musa, Simon Moses, Kelechi Iheanacho, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Samuel Chukwueze, Sikiru Alimi and Adamu Abubakar are available for Coach Eric Chelle in the fore-line, as Tolu Arokodare, who a few days ago clinched Belgium Pro League’s top scorer award, was scheduled to arrive on Tuesday night and might not feature having not trained with the team.  

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
• 23 Mar 2024 (Friendly): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2

  Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H