Popularly tagged the ‘Jollof Derby’ Nigeria vs Ghana rivalry has always been one for the books, which is why we compiled a list of the three times the Super Eagles handed the Black Stars a shocking defeat.
Even in international friendlies the Nigeria vs Ghana fixture is regarded as one of the biggest rivalries in the history of Africa football to date. With this in mind, we have compiled a list of three times Nigeria handed Ghana a shocking defeat in all 58 times both sides have met.
How many times has Nigeria defeated Ghana?
As difficult as it may seem to believe, Nigeria has only defeated Ghana 12 times in all 58 times both sides have met in all competitions and friendlies with 19 of the games ending in a draw and Ghana defeating Nigeria a total of 25 times.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles: 12 victories
Games Drawn: 19
Ghana’s Black Stars: 25 wins
3 times Nigeria vs Ghana ended in a shocking defeat for the Black Stars
The dramatic 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Nigeria ended Ghana’s 17-year unbeaten run in July 2001 in the return leg of the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. The first leg of the fixture which ended in a draw was played in Ghana had been filled with much drama and controversies and an angry reaction from fans as well.
The second leg which was played in Nigeria ended in a convincing victory for the Super Eagles who played as though there was so much to fight for from the first to the last whistle.
Victor Agali scored the opening goal of the match in just two minutes, followed by two more goals from Tijani Babangida in the first half. The game took an interesting turn when Ghana’s goalkeeper, Osei Boateng, was given a red card, leaving the team without any available substitutions. As a result, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, an outfield player, had to take on the role of goalkeeper for the rest of the game.
AFCON 2002 Quarter-finals defeat
Following a qualification into the quarter-finals of AFCON 2002 as the top of group A, Nigeria took things up a notch and handed a high-flying Black Stars of Ghana side that finished second in group B which had countries like South Africa, Morocco and so on, a shocking defeat in the final minutes of the game.
The 2002 tournament which was played in Mali saw Garba Lawal hand Nigeria a late victory amidst controversies. The fixture was a dramatic one which saw the goalkeeper of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Ike Shorunmu, hitting the grass hard after clashing with a Ghanaian player who was goal-bound in the early minutes of the game following an erroneous pass from Isaac Okoronkwo.
Taye Taiwo’s stunner at AFCON 2006
Image credit: Reuters
In the 84th minute at AFCON 2006 in a fixture watched by many in different parts of the world, defender Taye Taiwo earned Nigeria a late win and an edge over their rivals Ghana. The match had been a complex one for the Super Eagles who had initially struggled in the first half of the game after losing the talisman Austin Jay Jay Okocha due to injury, the team, however, had their eyes set on the goal which was qualifying for the next round of the tournament and it was safe to say the goal was accomplished by the most unconventional goalscorer of the tournament.
For many the fixture which will be played on Friday, March 22, 2024, might just be a friendly for the two sides involved in the fixture (Nigeria vs Ghana) there is so much at stake and to play for.
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