Global InformationJollof derby information
 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Quarter-Final | |
| Location | Africa (CAF) |
|---|---|
| Teams |
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| First meeting | Ghana 1–0 Nigeria Friendly (16 October 1950) |
| Latest meeting |
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| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 58 |
| All-time series |
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| Largest victory |
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Jollof derby is the moniker given to any encounter between the national football teams of Nigeria and Ghana. The derby takes its name from the nations' long-standing rivalry over who makes the best Jollof rice.[1] The rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria extends beyond the realm of sports and has a deep-rooted history. The divide extends beyond just football and encompasses aspects of culture, economy, and social status in West Africa. Debates have arisen regarding the origins and influences of music, the supreme culinary delight (such as Jollof rice), and occasionally, the most robust economic system. Due to their shared colonial histories, there are natural areas of cultural overlap between these two nations. This overlap can be observed in their cuisine, traditions, cinema, music, and the use of Pidgin English. Consequently, collaborations between individuals from these two countries have been common.[2][3]
The introduction of Ghana's Aliens Compliance Order in 1969 resulted in a gradual escalation of tensions between the two nations. Nigeria then implemented a comparable law in 1983, leading to the mass expulsion of Ghanaian residents. The intricate geopolitical and socio-cultural subtleties have contributed to the heightened intensity of football matches between these two nations.[2] Despite the occurrence of these political conflicts between these nations, there is no genuine enmity between them or their respective supporters. Instead, they engage in friendly banter rather than harbouring outright hostility. CNN ranked it 7th among the world's Top 10 international football rivalries and described it as the biggest rivalry on the African continent.[4]
The sport has been played since prior to both countries' respective independence, and the matchup is among the oldest and most-played rivalries in African football. The football competition reflects the long-standing socio-economic rivalry between the two nations,[5] which are two of the five Anglophone nations in West Africa and home to the largest populations in the region.[6][7]
The two sides often meet in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments, Olympic games, and WAFU tournaments. Apart from the AFCON Final, it is one of Africa's most important national football matches and one of the most watched sporting events.[8][9][10] The rivalry is considered one of the most intense in sports.[11][12] This high-octane match has seen remarkable goal celebrations from both teams, with the opposition frequently mocked.[13]
Ghana leads Nigeria in competitive match head-to-head results with 25 victories and 19 draws. Nigeria has had more success at the World Cup, with a total of 21 points since their debut in 1994 in the United States. Ghana has accumulated 19 points since their first appearance at the tournament in Germany in 2006.[14]
- ^ "The Jollof Rice Derby: Nigeria Vs Ghana World Cup Qualifier". The News Chronicle. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ a b Okeleji, Oluwashina. "Qatar 2022 playoff: Nigeria-Ghana love-hate affair beyond football". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ GodsonFH (25 March 2022). "Nigeria VS Ghana: Forget football, here are other areas of rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana". WITHIN NIGERIA. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ "Top 10 international rivalries - CNN.com". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Letter from Africa: Behind Ghana and Nigeria's love-hate affair". BBC News. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ "Ghanaians vs Nigerians: Sibling Rivalry". 11 January 2014. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
- ^ "Biggest Rivalry In Africa: Ghana vs. Nigeria". 2 February 2008. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
- ^ "Jollof derby Archives - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Nigeria-Ghana - West Africa's fierce rivalry". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Jollof Derby Statistical Review: What the numbers reveal about Ghana's performance against Nigeria". Citi Sports Online. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ "Ghana vs Nigeria: Jollof derby ends in a goalless draw". GhanaWeb. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ "SuperSport". supersport.com (in Zhuang). Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ Fajana, Adekunle (29 March 2022). "Ghanaian entertainers Shatta Wale, John Dumelo mock Nigeria for failing to qualify for 2022 World Cup". Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
- ^ "Jollof derby: Some things to know about Nigeria-Ghana rivalry". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.