Ghana vs Nigeria WC qualifier play-off Preview; Otto Addo battles Augustine Eguavoen for tactical supremacy

Ghana  vs Nigeria 

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi

Time: 7 pm

Referee:  Rédouane Jiyed, Morocco

• 71 years of  epic clashes

• Black Stars v Green Eagles

• Otto Addo will manage his first Ghana game

• Victor Osimhen is back

It is a historic fixture -a war between two brothers combatting over everything culture: food, music, education, personality etc yet they share all in common.

Economically, both countries do business in every facet of life.

Ghana and Nigeria are two big brothers that nothing at all seems to set them apart. According to Statista, published by Doris Dokua Sasu, as of January 2021, nearly 77,000 Nigerians were living in Ghana. 50,300 of them were men and 26,600 were women dwelling across the country.

Per the Envoy in 2018, 500,000 Ghanaians were also living in Nigeria. The Consul-General of Ghana in Lagos, Mr Maxwell Awiaya disclosed the figures. The brotherliness sometimes turns hate but at the end of the day, it is love that reign.

On 21 January, CAF made a mind-blowing draw which once again ordered the two West African giants to battle to get Qatar 2022 ticket. The build-up has been great since the day the draw was made. The time is now for the two teams to prove their mettlesome.

Recent Performance

Nigeria is heading to the play-offs as the better of the two teams. The Super Eagles played so well in the AFCON group stages – winning all their 3 group games with ease. They surprisingly lost to Tunisia in the round 1/8- stage of the playoffs. Their campaign was good compared to Ghana.

Ghana on the other hand had a poor campaign. No win, 1 draw, 2 defeats. Yes, 2 defeats: one against minnows Comoros. The Black Stars will quickly want to forget about the abysmal campaign by beating Nigeria.

Head to Head

It is 71 years since the two nations first played each other with a 1-0 victory in favour of Ghana in a friendly game at Accra Sports Stadium. The two nations have met 56 times with Ghana being superior to Nigeria. 25 wins for Ghana, 12 wins for Nigeria and 19 draws.

Team News

Interim coach Otto Addo announced Ghana’s 27 man squad on Monday with skipper Dede Ayew missing due to suspension. Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori returns after missing the AFCON due to injury. Former Fulham right-back Denis Odoi got his first Ghana call-up alongside AS Roma’s youngster Felix Afena Gyan.

Hearts of Oak’s left-back Denis Korsah was the surprise inclusion of the team. Daniel Amartey, Alexander Djiku, Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey and Daniel Kofi Kyere were all part of the Cameron 2021 team and are included in the squad by Otto Addo.

Augustine Owen Eguavon’s list is full of stars. The return of the best Number 9 on the continent Victor Osimhen will boost the Super Eagles’ attack.

Leicester City’s winger Ademola Lookman got his first call-up. Watford’s Emmanuel Dennis is included in the team after missing the AFCON. Wilfred  Ndidi will miss with a knee injury but Etebo, who missed the AFCON is expected to replace him. Samuel Chukueze, the Villareal forward, Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ola Aina and Troost Ekong are all part of the team.

Probable Lineup

Ghana 11

4-2-3-1

Richard Ofori (Gk)

Denis Odoi, Alexander Djiku, Daniel Amartey, Gideon Mensah (DF)

Thomas Party, Baba Iddrisu, (DM)

Kudus, Kofi Kyereh, Jordan Ayew (AM)

Afena Gyan (ST)

Nigeria 11

4-2-3-1

Daniel Akpeyi (GK)

Ola Aina, Troost Ekong, Keneth Omeruo, Zaidi Sanusi (DF)

Joe Aribo, Oghenekaro Etebo (DM)

Emmanuel Denis, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukieze (AM)

Victor Osimhen (ST)

Predictions

Kumasi is a fortress for Ghana. Nigeria needs to play like Bafana Bafana in AFCON 2000 to win in Oseikrom. Ghana lost 1-0 to Nomvethe’s 42nd-minute strike in the quarter-finals of CAN 2000. The last time Ghana lost was at Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

The Black Stars return to Kumasi after the 6-1 embarrassment of Egypt in 2014. Such a result is not expected.

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