Nigeria vs. Ghana: Oyarekhua’s brace and 11 interesting things you probably did not know about West Africa’s most passionate derby

Later today, Tuesday, the Super Eagles and the Black Stars clash in a winner-take-all 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

But just before that, Soccernet.ng‘s Imhons Erons highlights a few little-known facts involving these two African giants.

0 – Nigeria are yet to record a win in a competitive match on Ghanaian soil in the 72-history of their clashes. A Daniel Yeboah own-goal, however, handed a home-based Eagles a friendly victory in Accra in 2002.

1 – Sunday Oyarekhua is the first Nigerian to grab a brace in a competitive game against Ghana. Oyarekhua struck twice to power the Eagles to a 4-2 win over the Black Stars in a Group A clash at the 1973 All African Games held in Lagos.

3 – The Super Eagles’ biggest winning margin over Ghana is three, secured in a 3-0 win at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, in 2001 during the qualifying campaign for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Victor Agali’s first-minute opener and a first-half brace from Tijani Babangida powered the team past ten-man Black Stars.

4 – Nigeria failed to score in their first four recorded matches against Ghana, losing by the odd goal in the first three matchups. The Eagles broke that ugly cycle with a 3-0 friendly win in 1956.

The Super Eagles are currently on a three-game scoreless run against Ghana.

7 – Ghana can point to a 7-0 thrashing of Nigeria in 1955 in a friendly as the most significant margin of victory over their West African neighbours.

After both nations gained independence, the Black Stars crushed the Eagles 5-1 in another friendly in December 1961.

9 – Nigeria enjoyed a nine-match unbeaten run against Ghana between 1994 and 2007 – the longest streak without defeat against their eternal rivals.

The run comprised five wins and four draws, starting with a friendly stalemate in Lagos and ending with a 4-1 friendly loss at Griffin Park in 2007.

10 – Tuesday’s meeting will be the 51st clash between these two African giants, with the Super Eagles claiming ten wins.

Ghana boast the better head-to-head, though, with 21 victories, while 19 other games have ended in a draw.

11 – Nigeria have scored 11 goals in nine FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Ghana, winning two matches, drawing five, and losing the other two.

All of the Eagles’ goals were scored by Dejo Fayemi (2), Godwin Enemako, Sebastian Broderick, Olumuyiwa Oshode, Sam Garba, Kenneth Olayombo, Yakubu Mambo, Victor Agali, and Tijani Babangida (2).

27 – The first Nigerian player to score in a competitive match against Ghana was Dejo Fayemi. He bagged the consolation goal in a 4-1 defeat to the Black Stars in Accra in August 1960.

It was also Nigeria’s first-ever goal in a World Cup qualifier. Fayemi was 27 years old at the time.

28 – Excluding international friendlies, Ghana and Nigeria have only met 28 times.

Still, the Ghanaians hold the bragging rights with 11 wins. Nigeria have got the better of the five-time Afcon kings seven times, with ten other competitive games finishing in draws.

121 – Overall, these two teams have scored 121 goals in 51 previous face-offs. The Eagles have hit 46 goals past the Black Stars while conceding 75 goals in return.