11 Amazing Facts Ahead Of Ghana – Nigeria World Cup Play-Off

Nigeria and Ghana meet this Friday at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi in the first of a two-legged encounter to determine which team goes to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Ahead of the match, we bring to you some points of interest.

• This match will be Nigeria’s 111^st match in the World Cup qualifying series, an African record.
• This match will be Ghana’s 89^th match in the World Cup qualifying series.
• Ghana is attempting to qualify for the World Cup for the fourth time after featuring in 2006, 2010 and 2014.
• Nigeria is aiming for a seventh appearance in the World Cup after featuring in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018.
• Nigeria became the first Anglophone African team to compete at the World Cup in 1994.
• Both Nigeria and Ghana debuted in the World Cup qualifying series on the same day when Ghana beat Nigeria 4-1 in Accra on 28 August 1960.
• Friday’s match will be the ninth encounter of both teams in the World Cup qualifying series having met twice in the qualifying editions for 1962, 1970, 1974 and 2002.
• When they met on 10 May 1969 at the then Liberty Stadium in Ibadan, Nigeria came back from a first half goal deficit to win 2-1 with Sebastian Brodrick-Imasuen and Muyiwa Oshode scoring two goals within three minutes in the second half. Nigeria advanced following a 1-1 draw in Accra.
• The most tempestuous World Cup qualifier of both countries was the 10 February 1973 match I Lagos, when Ghana came from 2-1 down at half time to snatch a 3-2 win five minutes to regulation time. The angry crowd invaded the pitch and burnt the Ghanaian team bus. FIFA awarded the match 2-0 to Ghana who advanced following a goalless outing in Accra.
• As at the end of the group stage of the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, no African side has racked up as many qualifying victories as Nigeria, whose overall record of 62 wins in 110 games equates to a win rate of 56.36 per cent.

Nigeria have twice beaten Ghana on home soil. The first was on 24 August 1975 in the first match of Ghana-Nigeria Sports Festival. Goals from Ogidi Ibeabuchi and Emeka Onyeadika enabled Nigeria beat Ghana 2-1 before their home crowd. The same result was achieved on 30 October 1983 when Rashidi Yekini made his international debut. Goals from Chibuzor Ehilegbu and John Omughele gave Nigeria a 2-1 win in Accra.