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Besides breaking recent chains of loses to Ghana, Super Eagles have all to play for in 60th match with arch rivals

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1 month ago

March 20, 2024

Besides breaking recent chains of loses to Ghana, Super Eagles have all to play for in 60th match with arch rivals

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

No other team in the world has as much fixtures with Nigeria than Ghana. Both have met 59 times across different competitions and for a very long time.

The Friday match at the Stade de Marrakech, the world’s first ever rectangular-shaped stadium with elliptical running tracks, will be the 60^th encounter of Nigeria and Ghana.

It will also be the first national team handling for both coaches.

Finidi George debuts as an interim coach for the Super Eagles, Addo Atto debuts as full-time handler for the Ghana Black Stars.

Both therefore have points to make in the prestige-boosting match-up. More importantly, the Nigerian side, very familiar with the Marrakech stadium having played some away qualifying matches there in the frame of AFCON 2023, will be attempting to break a chain of invincibility surrounding recent matches with Ghana.

Nigeria last beat Ghana 18 years ago during the Ghana 2006 Afcon. In six successive matches, Ghana either beat the Super Eagles or the match is drawn.

Often recalled is the Nigeria elimination from the 2022 World Cup by Ghana. This is then followed up with the Nigerian home-based team elimination from the qualifiers for African Nations Championships (CHAN) by Ghana.

Last year, Nigeria’s team in the CAF Champions League, Remo Stars were eliminated in a penalty shoot-out by Ghana’s Medeama.

Seven months ago, Nigeria’s Delta Queens failed to qualify for the 3rd edition of the CAF Women Champions League. after losing to Ghana’s Amem Daroa.

The chain of loses began in a 6 February 2007 match at the Griffin Park in London. It was Austin Eguavoen’s last match in his first stint as Super Eagles’ handler.

The next day, a new helmsman, Berti Vogts was unveiled. The 4-1 defeat caused Nigeria’s biggest fall in FIFA ranking, dropping from ninth position to 20 to begin a gradual descent.

Ghana’s invincibility will be further stretched if the Super Eagles fail to win on Friday.

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

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South Africa plans for ‘Mother-of-all-Battle’ in final Olympic qualifier with Nigeria –

Published

3 weeks ago

April 6, 2024

Kunle Solaja

South Africa plans for ‘Mother-of-all-Battle’ in final Olympic qualifier with Nigeria -

Banyana Banyana game plan was to either beat the Super Falcons at home as they did two years ago in Lagos or earn a draw in Friday’s first leg match of Olympic qualifier in Abuja.

That did not happen as Rasheedat Ajibade’s penalty kick earned Nigeria an outright 1-0 win over South Africa – a first win since the Super Falcons’ 1-0 win in Limbe, Cameroon in 2016.

But according to an account in the South African Football Association website, “Banyana Banyana will have to give it all in the second leg.”

It reported that Banyana Banyana came back from the first half break a much more improved side but failed to convert the few chances that came their way.

“Outstanding goalkeeper Kaylin Swart had to work overtime to deny the hosts from extending their lead.

“Despite creating numerous chances for an equaliser, the game ended 1-0 for the Super Falcons.”

The two African giants will lock horns for the second leg on Tuesday at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria where coach Desiree Ellis’ charges will be hoping to overturn the deficit.

Coach Ellis believes they are still in the game and can turn things around in the second leg on Tuesday.

“Look, we said it was going to be a tight game but we are hopeful of overturning this result in the second leg.”

“We are still in the game. We created a couple of chances, a penalty decided the match but the game is not over.

“I thought in the second half we raised our game a lot and created good chances and could have equalized.

“Maybe we could also have gotten a penalty at the end when Jermaine was fouled but I’m very proud of the team and we will take it back to Pretoria,” said Ellis.

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Nigeria’s Super Falcons on slippery path to Paris 2024 –

Published

3 weeks ago

April 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Nigeria’s Super Falcons on slippery path to Paris 2024 -

Nigeria’s Super Falcons beat Banyana Banyana of South Africa 1-0 in their first leg of the final qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The return leg comes up on Tuesday in Pretoria.

The South Africans consider the result a good one going into the final qualifier.

Skipper of the side, Rasheedat Ajibade scored the lone goal from a penalty spot in the 43^rd minute.

It is Nigeria’s first outright defeat of South Africa since 2018 when Nigeria excelled in an ensuing penalty shootout after a goalless draw in the final match of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.

In their next two matches.

First, they pulled off a big upset beating Nigeria 4-2 to win the Aisha Buhari Cup in Lagos in September 2021 and followed up with another 2-1 win in a Group C match at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

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Tragedy hits South African football as international player is shot dead! –

Published

3 weeks ago

April 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Tragedy hits South African football as international player is shot dead! -

Former South Africa junior international Luke Fleurs, who played for the country’s most popular club Kaizer Chiefs, has been killed in an attempted hijacking in Johannesburg, police officials confirmed on Thursday.

The 24-year-old was shot in the chest at a petrol station on Wednesday night and the assailants drove off in his vehicle.

“While waiting to be served by the petrol attendant, he was confronted by two armed males,” police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo told reporters, adding no arrests had yet been made.

Centre back Fleurs played every minute for South Africa at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, and that same year was called up to the senior team for World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia, though he did not make it off the bench and was uncapped.

“We woke up to the heartbreaking and devastating news of the passing of this young life. This is such a huge loss for his family, friends, his teammates and football in general. We are all grieving this young man’s passing,” South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan said in a statement.

South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture, Zizi Kodwa said he was “saddened that yet another life has been cut short due to violent crime”.

Fleurs joined Chiefs from SuperSport United in October, having come through the Ubuntu Football Academy in Cape Town.

-Reuters