Come this Thursday, January 28 and soccer fans in African and the world beyond will witness yet another epic encounter between the Black Stars of Ghana and the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Matches between these two regional soccer powerhouses have always produced fireworks and completely defiled form guide. Added to this is the fact the both sides have had their confidence boosted following their hard-fought wins at the quarter final stage of the competition. Ghana overcoming Angola whilst Nigeria disposed of Zambia.

Ghana and Nigeria soccer rivalry goes a long way back. However, the encounters between these sides at the African Cup of Nations have always escalated into strange and feverish heights. In a period of thirty years, the two sides have met five times between 1978 and 2008, with two wins to each side and a draw. Of these encounters, two have been at the group stage (1978 & 2006); two at the quarter finals (2002 and 2006) stage and one at the semi-final stage (1992). Nevertheless, Nigeria will want to remind all about the 2002 and 2006 Nations Cup competitions during which they beat the Black Stars by a lone goal at various stages of the competition.

Ghana on the other hand were victorious in the juicy encounters in 1992 and 2008. In both of these matches, Nigeria scored first only to go down by 1-2 margin. Soccer pundits widely continue to believe that the clashes in 1978 (Ghana) and 1992 (Senegal) were the most exciting and tantalizing as both sides were in their best form prior to these games.

In 1978, Ghana then the host nation was determined to win the trophy for keeps and therefore the moment the draws were announced, the Ghanaian soccer authorities singled out the then Green Eagles of Nigeria as the biggest threat to their aspirations.

The Black Stars technical team mapped out a strategy to contain the Nigerians spearheaded by Christian Chukwu, 'Mathematical' Segun Odegbami and Mudal Lawal among others. Some of these measures were to play Awuley Quaye, a central defender at left-foot back.

Additionally, Ghana's 'Dribbling Magician', Polo, was rested in the crucial opening match against Zambia so that his contribution could be brought to bear fully. The matched did live up to expectation and the 1-1 drawn game on the fateful March 8, was perhaps the best and logical outcome.

On Thursday in Angola, the stage will be set once again and it appears the events of 1992 encounter is about to be re-lived again. In truth, both Ghana and Nigeria are far the splendid form they were when they met in Senegal, at this same stage of the tournament. Whether it ends in the normal 2-1 or 1-0 outcome, both sides will be determined to come out on top. However, it appears both have equal chances of carrying the game and answering the call at the finals. This time there is no Abedi Pele or Rashid Yekini like of gem in each squad. However the new stars of Kwadwo Asamoah, Asamoah Gyan, Mikel Obi, O. Martins, to mention a few, will follow a long-standing tradition of striving par excellence, to write a page in soccer history with some delightful performance and soccer artistry. They will try to emulate the fine performances of their idols and predecessors, some of whom will be watching from TV monitors.

At the end, there will a winner and a vanquished side. But to all soccer lovers across the world following this tournament, the full extent of this rivalry between soccer giants will continue to feature prominently around drinking bars, chop-bars and TV parlors, long after the outcome, as the soccer world enjoy the euphoria of yet another era.

By: Morris Theophilus

Houston, U.S.A

thecoolcat9009@yahoo.com