<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-377059" src="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ghana-Nigeria.jpg" alt="World Cup Ghana Nigeria" width="1200" height="725" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/03/Ghana-Nigeria.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/03/Ghana-Nigeria-600x363.jpg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/03/Ghana-Nigeria-150x91.jpg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/03/Ghana-Nigeria-768x464.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure>
In the final stages of CAF World Cup qualifying, Ghana and Nigeria play for a berth over two legs.
Ghana, the heroes of the 2010 World Cup, hit rock bottom two months ago. In the African Cup of Nations, AFCON, they failed to win a game in the tournament. This is something the Black Stars had never done before.
In years prior, Ghana embodied the standard of soccer on their continent. Now, the nation’s drought for major silverware is reaches its 40th birthday. Along the way, Ghana created its own demise.
In 2015, Comoros president <a href="https://ghanasoccernet.com/comoros-president-wants-ghana-to-help-in-football-development-in-his-country">Dr. Ikililou Dhoinine</a> asked Ghana to send ambassadors and help his nation develop in the sport. Seven years later, the island eliminates Ghana from AFCON in a dramatic win, 3-2. Due to the abysmal performance, Ghana sacked head coach Milovan Rajevac, then in his second stint as gaffer.
Afterwards, a debate ensued among the nation regarding who should be the next head coach of the national team.
<h3>Ghana’s hunt for success</h3>
<h5>Revamped managerial setup</h5>
Chris Hughton and Otto Addo emerged as the finalists for the Ghana managerial position. Hughton drew acclaim due to his time as manager of Brighton and Hove Albion. On the other hand, Addo was an assistant coach at Borussia Dortmund and former Ghana international player. The decision surprised most people.
In the end, Ghana’s FA hired both candidates in an unusual arrangement. Addo serves as interim head coach. Hughton, on the other hand, has a title that displays his seniority and experience over Addo.
<blockquote>“There is a coach, but I have the role of technical advisor and my role will be to support the coach and the staff for these two games. But I am very much looking forward to getting back and I have a lot to offer,” said Hughton to Chronicle Live U.K.</blockquote>
The two assistant coaches are Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, a two-time Ghana Premier League winning manager and the former manager of Ghana’s Women’s National Team. Then, George Boateng, Aston Villa’s U-23 manager, is the second assistant.
The Ghana FA assembled an excellent staff to support Addo in his first endeavor as a head coach. But, they also compromised his authority. Ghana also considered Dramani and Boateng for the position of manager. As the interim head coach, the 2001-02 Bundesliga winner knows that if the team does not advance to the World Cup in their playoff against Nigeria, he is out of the role.
<h5>Reset</h5>
While the former manager, Rajevac, hails from Serbia, the current technical staff all have familial ties to Ghana.
For example, Hughton’s father is from Ghana. Addo’s parents hail from Ghana. Yet, he was born and raised in Hamburg, Germany, which has a large Ghanaian population. Many believe that being connected to the country on a personal level allows coaches to relay ideas to players in a digestible way.
In 1999, while playing for Dortmund, Addo chose to play for the Black Stars. He was a member of the team when it made its first World Cup appearance in 2006. In 2013, Addo became Ghana’s head scout. Therefore, he aided in identifying players while assisting the coaching staff with tactical game plans. Since 2019, Addo helped Dortmund develop talent and adapt to the Bundesliga. One of his best students is Erling Haaland, who gifted Addo a pair of Michael Jordan’s <a href="https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Dortmund-s-Erling-Haaland-gifts-Ghanaian-coach-Otto-Addo-Jordan-sneakers-on-Christmas-Day-1431562">sneakers</a> for Christmas.
Addo understands what is at stake in the final stage of World Cup qualifiers and believes the team is ready to face the challenge.
<blockquote>“Matches between Ghana and Nigeria are always difficult, but we believe in our players, we believe in our strategies and the unflinching support of Ghanaians as we go into these matches. We are Ghana and we have what it takes to come out victorious,” stated Addo after speaking to the press on Monday.</blockquote>
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<h3>World Cup berth between Ghana and Nigeria</h3>
The Black Stars and Super Eagles have one of the most intense rivalries in soccer. As nations, Ghana and Nigeria compete against each other in everything. The biggest debate is which nation makes jollof, a popular West African rice dish, the best. Therefore, the rivalry on the pitch is affectionally called, ‘The Jollof Derby.’
Entering this two-legged tie to reach Qatar, the Super Eagles won three of the last five competitive matches against Ghana. To make sure they advance, Nigeria bolstered its attack and saw a change of manager.
Like Ghana, Nigeria faltered in AFCON. Despite three wins from three in the group, Tunisia knocked out Nigeria in the round of 16. Consequently, the Nigerian FA fired its foreign coach, Gernot Rohr. Then, Nigeria replaced him with an interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen. He played on the team when Nigeria won AFCON in 1994. He now has the task of clinching a spot at the World Cup when Ghana takes on his Nigeria.
Eguavoen enlisted strikers Emmanuel Dennis, Odion Ighalo and Victor Osimhen into the team after the trio did not participate in AFCON. Before the March international break, Ighalo scored a hat-trick for Al-Hilal and Osimhen bagged a brace for Napoli. Clearly, their forwards are in form. They also convinced Leicester City winger Ademola Lookman to switch his nationality from England and to play for his ancestral home.
<h5>Next man up on both sides</h5>
Unfortunately, Lookman’s club teammate, midfielder Wilfried Ndidi, has a nagging knee injury. Therefore, he will miss the pair of playoff games for the Super Eagles.
On the other hand, Ghana lacks electric Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana, left-back Baba Rahman, veteran Mubarak Wakaso and box-to-box midfielder Majeed Ashimeru. Finally, Andre Ayew, the nation’s captain and emotional leader, must serve his one-game suspension for a red card against Comoros. Fortunately, Ayew’s brother Jordan will be playing despite concerns over contracting COVID-19.
Roma forward Felix Afena-Gyan is in line to make his first cap for the Black Stars. Pace and finishing are crucial for the 19-year-old in this hostile two-legged tie.
<h5>When and where</h5>
Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana, hosts the first game on March 25. The Black Stars own a 75% win rate in this stadium since 2006. The decision to play at Baba Yara only came in recently. Previously, FIFA turned down Cape Coast Stadium due to a designation that it is unfit to host international competition. In a similar, albeit more planned move, Addo just named his squad on Tuesday to keep the Nigerians on their toes.
The first tie is on Friday at 3:30 P.M. ET and the second will be played on Tuesday, March 29 at 1 p.m. ET.
Stream both matches of this CAF World Cup qualifier between Ghana and Nigeria on ESPN+.

World Cup at stake in Ghana and Nigeria’s Jollof Derby

With World Cup bids coming to fruition, Ghana and Nigeria battle in the Jollof Derby over two legs to reach the world's biggest tournament.

World Cup at stake in Ghana and Nigeria's Jollof Derby - World Soccer Talk

<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/11/algeria-e1416275863277.jpg"></a><figure class="image"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/11/algeria-e1416275863277.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-121851" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20141118_CMS_121850_algeria-600x397_0ca14c53.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=397" alt="Algérie - Arménie - 20140531 - Equipe d&apos;Algérie" width="600" height="397"></a></figure>
Wednesday marks the final round of qualifying for the African Nations Cup. It will now take place in Equatorial Guinea between 17 January to 8 February next year as Morocco were officially removed as hosts due to their reluctance of hosting the tournament due to fear of the ebola epidemic. Six places are still up for grabs prior to Wednesday’s fixtures.
Here is a breakdown of the groups and matches (all times U.S Eastern):
– Group winners, runners-up and the best 3rd&nbsp;place team qualify for the final tournament.
– Tiebreakers are determined on a head-to-head basis (points between the teams; goal difference; away goals; followed by goal difference in all games; and goals scored).
GROUP A:
1. South Africa…..11pts
2. Nigeria…..7pts.
3. Congo…..7pts.
4. Sudan…..3pts.
Matches:
12:00pm Nigeria v South Africa
12:00pm Sudan v Congo
– Nigeria hold the tiebreaker over Congo as they both shared road victories but Nigeria have a superior goal difference in those two matches (4-3). So Nigeria need a victory or to at least match Congo’s result in Sudan. South Africa have already qualified.
———————————
GROUP B:
1. Algeria…..15pts.
2. Mali…..6pts.
3. Malawi…..6pts.
4. Ethiopia…..3pts.
Matches:
11:00am Ethiopia v Malawi
11:00am Mali v Algeria&nbsp;&nbsp; (LIVE on beinsportsconnect.tv)
– Algeria have qualified. An Ethiopia win and Mali loss would actually place 3 teams on 6 points and goal difference would come into play. In case of two draws on Wednesday, Mali &amp; Malawi shared 2-0 home wins so the tiebreaker would go to overall goal-difference which is clearly in Mali’s favor. Malawi also have a chance to qualify as the best 3rd&nbsp;place team.
———————————
GROUP C:
1. Burkina Faso…..10pts.
2. Gabon…..9pts.
3. Angola…..5pts.
4. Lesotho…..2pts.
Matches:
1:00pm Burkina Faso v Angola
1:00pm Gabon v Lesotho
– Burkina Faso and Gabon have already assured their places in the final tournament. Angola need a win and many other scenarios to go their way to finish as the best 3rd&nbsp;place team.
———————————
GROUP D:
1. Cameroon…..13pts.
2. Ivory Coast…..9pts.
3. DR Congo…..6pts.
4. Sierra Leone…..1pts.
Matches:
9:00am Ivory Coast v Cameroon (LIVE beINSport, beIÑ &amp; DishWorld)
9:00am DR Congo v Sierra Leone
– The important thing to keep in mind here is that DR Congo hold the tiebreaker over Ivory Coast (away goals head-to-head) so Cameroon cannot afford to slip up at home to a Cameroon side that has already qualified. Also worth noting, the 3rd&nbsp;place team here would very much be in consideration for a final’s berth.
———————————
GROUP E:
1. Ghana…..8pts.
2. Uganda…..7pts.
3. Guinea…..7pts.
4. Togo……6pts.
Matches:
11:00am Ghana v Togo&nbsp;&nbsp; (LIVE beINSport, beIÑ &amp; DishWorld)
11:00am Guinea v Uganda
– A group where none have officially qualified and all four teams are still in the running. The combinations are plenty. One fact worth keeping in mind, Uganda have beaten Guinea 2-0 in their first meeting so if a tiebreaker is looked at for only those two teams, Uganda have the advantage depending on Wednesday’s result.
———————————
GROUP F:
1. Cape Verde…..12pts.
2. Zambia…..8pts.
3. Mozambique…..5pts.
4. Niger…..2pts.
Matches:
11:00am Niger v Mozambique
11:00am Zambia v Cape Verde (LIVE on beinsportsconnect.tv)
– Zambia hold the tiebreaker over Mozambique so this group is over. Cape Verde and Zambia advance. However, Mozambique have an outside chance to claim the best 3rd&nbsp;place overall.
———————————
GROUP G:
1. Tunisia…..11pts.
2. Senegal…..10pts.
3. Egypt…..6pts.
4. Botswana…..1pts.
Matches:
2:00pm Senegal v Botswana
2:00pm Tunisia v Egypt
– Tunisia and Senegal are heading to the final tournament. But Egypt are still in the hunt for the best 3rd&nbsp;place team.
———————————
CURRENT 3RD&nbsp;PLACE RANKINGS:
1. Guinea…..7pts (0 Goal Difference)
2. Congo…..7pts. (-1)
3. Egypt…..6pts. (0)
4. DR Congo…..6pts. (-1)
5. Malawi…..6pts. (-4)
6. Angola…..5pts. (0)
7. Mozambique…..5pts. (0)
Edward Perovic is the publisher of soccertvblog.com – a source for schedules and US TV information for major European Leagues and International competitions.

U.S TV Schedule For Final Round Of African Nations Cup Qualifying 

U.S TV Schedule For Final Round Of African Nations Cup Qualifying  - World Soccer Talk

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World Cup at stake in Ghana and Nigeria’s Jollof Derby

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