Nigeria’s Super Eagles aim to match Cameroon’s World Cup record with triumph over Ghana’s Black Stars

A spot at the next edition of the Mundial will be at stake when the West African neighbours clash twice in four days

Nigeria will take on Ghana in the first leg of their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Friday, March 25.

The second leg will take place at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Nigeria on Tuesday, March 29, with the winner on aggregate picking up one of the five World Cup tickets reserved for African teams.

A victory for Nigeria will guarantee the Super Eagles their seventh appearance at the Mundial, having made their debut in the competition at the 1994 edition in the United States.

The three-time African champions can also match Cameroon’s record of four consecutive appearances at the World Cup, with an aggregate win over Ghana.

After failing to qualify for Germany 2006, Nigeria have featured at South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, and Russia 2018. Cameroon made history when they appeared at every edition of the World Cup between 1994 and 2002.

The Super Eagles’ performances at the competition have not been exceptional, with the West Africans never making it past the Round of 16.

Ghana will be fired up to return to the Mundial after missing the last edition in Russia. The Black Stars have made three appearances at the World Cup, the first in 2006.

Nigeria are favourites to advance past the Ghanaians after recording relatively better results than their eternal rivals in recent times.

But head-to-head history is in favour of Ghana, as the Black Stars have won 25 of the 56 games between both sides, losing 12 and drawing the other 19.