2022 WCQ Why Nigeria may need Obasanjo as President for 5 days to overcome Ghana

During his first stint as Nigeria’s head of state, the men’s senior national team – the Super Eagles – recorded two stalemates: a 1-1 draw at Ghana-hosted 1978 African Cup of Nations, and then a goalless draw in a Group B fixture four months later, at the All African Games in 1978.

They were the only two times the Ghana-Nigeria rivalry got ignited between 1976 and 1979.

His second time as head of state saw the Super Eagles play Ghana eight times between August 1999, and January 2006 – all of them ending in either a win or a draw (5W, 3D) for the Super Eagles.

To date, it is the longest Nigeria positive streak have ever recorded over Ghana in this 72-year African football feud.

In fact, of the 26 games Nigeria have played in Ghana, only with Obasanjo in power have the Super Eagles nicked an away win over the Black Stars: in a December 2002 friendly.

Between 1979 – when Obasanjo handed over – and 1999 when he returned to power, Nigeria won just once, drawing two games and losing six times against Ghana.

But while as President, it took Ghana an additional nine games to beat the Super Eagles. They recorded a 4-1 win which came in a friendly, just two months before Nigeria elected a new president in 2007.

Since Obasanjo handed power over in 2007, Nigeria have failed to defeat Ghana to date – losing two times, and drawing once (if the WAFU Nations Cup are being omitted).

With every other thing in order, to face Ghana in a two-legged match ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, Nigeria may still be missing an essential component.