Washington, DC — Soccer games between Ghana and Nigeria are traditionally intense and Sunday's World Cup qualifier in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, is more intense than most.
The stakes could not be higher. Nigeria needs a victory if the Super Eagles are to win a place in the World Cup finals in Korea/Japan next May. But Ghana has a golden reputation to defend and will fight to win.
These two giants of continental soccer are passionate about the sport and millions of their fans around the world follow their every move.
In fact, rivalry between the two West African nations is so strong that there are concerns about safety at the match, despite official assurances that maximum security will be ensured before, during and after the match.
The fears are justified. A rash of stadium disasters in Africa during the past year - in Johannesburg, Accra, Kinshasa, Addis Ababa and other cities - have sometimes left hundreds of fans dead.
Security aside, Nigeria has a considerable psychological advantage. The Super Eagles are playing on home ground and with 13 points already under their belt, occupy second position in group B, currently led by Liberia.
The pressure is on, however. Anything short of a victory would put paid to Nigeria's World Cup ambitions and give the fifth and final berth to Liberia.
As to the Ghanaians, they may be playing away from home but soccer history is on their side.
Out of 43 games they have played against Nigeria, Ghana's Black Stars have won nineteen, lost ten and drawn in the rest. And it is 15 years since they have conceded defeat to the Nigerians. Not since their 1984 African Cup of Nations defeat in Cote D'Ivoire, have they allowed themselves to be pushed around by the Super Eagles.
But if the Nigerians have long felt jinxed against Ghana, they are confident they will break the jinx this time. "I don't see how [the Ghanaians] will stop us. We're on course now and are ready to beat them," says Super Eagles winger Tijani Babangida, one of many Nigerian professionals drafted from European clubs for Sunday's showdown.
The Nigerian Football Association has spared no effort to bring home the country's best foreign-based soccer talent, including defender Isaac Okoronkwo, whose Ukrainian club Shaktar Donetsk initially refused to release, spurring a rift with the Association.
There is more doubt over Ghana's internationals. The Ghanaians jetted into Nigeria, Friday, after their coach Fred Osam-Duodo, had delayed departure by one day to allow some of Ghana's foreign-based stars to attend. Austrian club Graz' Charles Amoah and Portugal-based Emmanual Duah who was ticked to captain the Black Stars Sunday, did not arrive in time to travel with the team.
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Whether these players will make the final line-up is uncertain, but Osam-Duodo is confident that even with a completely home-based team, he can still beat the Nigerians. He can rely, for example, on striker Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Ghana's current player of the year, to lead the charge.
"It is true we are out of contention [for the World Cup]," says Coach Osam-Duodo, "but that does not mean we're going to Nigeria for a cup of tea. We have a reputation to defend."
But Osam-Duodo knows the skilful and tough Nigerians will not be a pushover and his players have all been promised generous bonuses if they win on Sunday, as an extra incentive.
By putting paid to Nigeria's World Cup campaign, Ghana's Black Stars would be letting Liberia go forward with the four who have already qualified - Cameroon, South Africa, Tunisia and Senegal - ironic, since it was Ghana that beat Liberia's team 2-1 on their home ground two weeks ago.
Not surprisingly, the Liberians are willing to bury the hatchet and support Ghana this weekend. World Cup qualification would be a first for the diamond-rich but war-torn Liberia.
But regardless of who qualifies on Sunday, Africa still have cause to celebrate. Soccer may be a highly nationalistic business, but that won't stop the continent's five representatives to the World Cup from displaying some sparkling talent.
