Ghana vs Nigeria: Jollof Rice, Shatta Wale And Reincarnation Of An Ageless Rivalry
Jollof rice; Ghana-Must-Go and Shatta Wale. There are a lot that pit Ghana against Nigeria. From old, reigning and unforgettable diplomatic shenanigans to unforced entertainment jibes, an agelong battle of who owns the better Jollof rice and footballers, both countries’ relationships are two extremes – intense rivalry or an extremely heartwarming friendship.
Historically, Ghana and Nigeria have a lot to share. They both have many stories to tell and at every point success comes to one over the other, the stories can be painful to narrate. There are many Nigerians in Ghana, and Nigeria is a second home to Ghanaians. It’s a brotherly affair in that middle, but it isn’t shorn of that stroke of envy, rivalry and the desire to have a mirror image of the other’s success.
Take your mind back. The year was 2006 and Nigeria was filled with many Ghanaians in different professions. Some of them were cobblers, teachers, businessmen and artisans. Nigeria was the place. At every point, they were always in agreement with Nigerians until there’s a football match that pits both countries together. Nigeria missed out on that year’s World Cup to Angola and Ghana made it through. The Black Stars didn’t just qualify, they equalled Nigeria’s record on their first attempt and surpassed it four years later. That was a strong generation of Ghanaian footballers who gave locals and citizens abroad a huge bragging right. These days feel different, the matchup isn’t as equal, in fairness, but the rivalry is hotter, fiercer and candidly, better. Also, a lot has changed in terms of where citizens choose to hustle – the common term for finding survival. Ghana seems a lot better these days on the economic front. But that’s not the contention.
Both nations have been drawn together to play for a slot at the 2022 World Cup to be held later in the year in Qatar. It’s the worst draw possible for Ghana and Nigeria but by far, a neutral’s tea party, as it not only brings back those memories of fierce football battles, it also means one of them will miss out of the World Cup, with two tough battles to prosecute. Ghanaians must feel it’s the worst-time possible to face Nigeria.
The Black Stars still have festering wounds from a bitter elimination at the group stage of the ongoing AFCON in Cameroon. How that happened isn’t just painful but disappointing and the hands of whom that defeat came from (Comoros) is dubbed disrespectful to Ghana. It’s a bitter reality and a clear picture of where the Black Stars are currently but a clash against Nigeria puts place and current conditions to the bottom of the pile. It’s a different kettle of fish against the Super Eagles.
Nigeria are proving pre-tournament predictions at the AFCON wrong, are standing at the moment as arguably the most impressive team and all looks well in the Super Eagles camp. Same may not be said of Ghana but nothing inspires and invigorates a group of Ghanaians better than a Nigerian rivalry. In fairness, it cuts across both nations. And the motivation is just enough premise to play for pride, place and country in that.
It’s the World Cup, a chance for Ghana to right all their wrongs and an opportunity for Nigeria to go a step further and make the avalanche of talents in this generation count. However, there’s something deeply worrisome about this particular draw for both nations. It’s a bookmakers’ favourite, a writer’s delight but largely a slippery slope for Ghana and Nigeria.
About fifteen years ago, when a friendly match was set up in London between Nigeria and Ghana, the “Grudge Match” they called it, but events of the day was nothing near the elaborate tag that game at Griffin Park got. Ghana defeated Nigeria 4-1 in that game and they hardly broke a sweat. Times have changed. This time around, more than a decade from that moment and with the same man, Austin Eguavoen on Nigeria’s bench in his third coming, it is now by every means a “Grudge Match” – same tag, different realities.
The social media is buzzing already with what to expect from that clash. Nigerians are yet to forgive Shatta Wale’s outburst at the Nigerian music industry, Jollof rice has gone beyond more than a mere cuisine to a reason for friendly battles. But this is the climax of all. An aggregation of those agelong rivalries, an opportunity to settle scores and another chance for both nations to take a pound of flesh.
Nigeria last faced Ghana in a competitive fixture at the 2010 African Cup of Nations and got eliminated in the semifinals courtesy of an Asamoah Gyan winner. A lot has changed ever since, and Nigeria look a lot better too since then. Nigeria have been to three World Cups and Ghana have made it twice. The Super Eagles, are however winless in 4 games against the Black Stars. All is at stake now, and this clash particularly is devoid of form or strength.
Twitter will buzz, and the pre-match clashes will be interesting enough to put things on plate for this fixture. Ghana must improve and Nigeria must be wary. These are dire times and an opportunity for Eguavoen not to fail the second time. There’s so much at stake – pride, place and country and we will see that in full glare. Indeed a reincarnation.
Written by Rilwan Adebayo Balogun
