It’s barely eight days to the crucial first leg of the final round of Qatar 2022 World Cup Playoffs between Nigeria and Ghana.
Ghana will host the Super Eagles at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, the largest stadium in the country in terms of capacity.
Nigeria and Ghana have a long history of rivalry that dates back to tens of decades and every game between both sides is hotly-contested.
While Ghana currently hold an advantage having won more games against against the Super Eagles, Nigeria currently has the better squad on paper.
In one of the most cracking games played between both nations, the Black Stars faced a struggling Super Eagles at the quarterfinal of the 2008 African Cup of Nations hosted in Ghana.
Ghana at the time, had some of their finest players including Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari and were coming from their success at their maiden World Cup appearance in Germany in 2006, when they made it to the round of 16.
The Black Stars were favourites going into the game against Nigeria as the Super Eagles had struggled to make it out of the group defeating only Benin Republic to qualify.
Nigeria, led by former German international, Berti Vogts however put their group stage struggles behind them to score first against Ghana. Yakubu Aiyegbeni converted a spot kick for the Super Eagles before an equaliser by Michael Essien on the stroke of half time.
Late former Charlton Athletic attacker Junior Agogo scored the winner minutes before the end of the games to send fans at the Ohene Djan Stadium into a rapturous celebration.
With a lot changed since 2008, the Black Stars will have their hands full when they face Nigeria in Kumasi in just over a week’s time.
