Austin Eguavoen and Emmanuel Amuneke are experienced enough to know that Black Stars are not dead yet, especially after their woeful African Nations Cup outing. Confronting the Eagles is sweet music to the soul of Ghana.
Only a fool would wave Ghana aside. Stories about tortous search for a Manager, juju in camp and disunity among players are part of the plot to weigh down Nigeria, like Tunisia did with Covid at the last African Nations Cup in Cameroon.
I want to take Nigerians on a historical tour. In 1973, the Green Eagles conquered Africa for the very first time. They won the soccer gold medal of the Second All Africa Games in Lagos.
In the first match of the Games, Nigeria defeated Ghana 4-2. Tony Igwe scored from the spot. Sunny Oyarekhua got a brace. Jossy Dombraye also scored. Kwasi Owusu was on target for the visitors. That was in January.
Barely a month later, both countries met in a World Cup qualifier for a ticket to West Germany 1974. The first leg in Lagos was like war. The Black Stars were so rough and the referee from Congo seemed to be in their support.
The officiating was so poor that when Ghana scored a disputed third goal, fans started throwing objects into the field. Before that goal, scores stood at 2-2. Nigeria abandoned the match and FIFA ruled it 3-2 in favour of the Black Stars.
Victor Oduah captained the Eagles, made up of players that won All Africa Games gold. One addition was Tony Ottah. The post was manned by Emma Okala who was stretchered off in the match against Ghana at the All Africa Games
Dominic Ezeani, Haruna Ilerika, Jossy Dombraye were still involved. Two of Ghana’s three goals were scored by Kwasi Owusu, the man who also got a goal against Nigeria at the All Africa Games.
Okala was livid with Black Stars and their frustrating football. He was not going to allow himself to be injured again like they did a month earlier. He picked on their danger man, Owusu.
Okala is still dreaded in Ghana because of that match because it is believed that he slapped Owusu. This was highlighted when the Black Star died in 2020.
Striking partner, Dan Owusu said: “Kwasi Owusu was a gentle person and his patience was beyond measure. I quite remember a game against Nigeria in which he scored twice. The Nigerian goalkeeper, Okala, slapped him, yet he just ignored Okala and the Ghana Football Association as a result honoured him for that.”
Nigeria went to Accra for the return leg with a new captain, Kenneth Olayombo. Lagos State Military governor, Mobolaji Johnson was there as well and was made Joint Guest of Honour with Ghana’s minister of Industries,Maj. K.B. Agbo.
Green Eagles failed to score just like their hosts. The Ghanaians advanced to the third round and with stars like Owusu, skipper Jabir Malik and Awule Quaye, thought they could go through to the World Cup.
It did not happen. Congo Democratic Republic ( then known as Zaire) beat Ghana to pick Africa’s sole ticket.
What happened was that the Green Eagles had beaten Diables Noire in the first round before they faced Ghana in the second. The referee apparently was still mourning his country’s elimination by Nigeria.
The Red Devils ( Diables Noire) were reigning African Nations Cup champions in 1973. They won the trophy at the Cameroon 1972 edition. Congo also came to the Lagos ’73 All Africa Games as defending soccer gold medalists.
Diables Noire won gold at the Brazzaville 1965 edition which the country hosted. The Green Eagles were not there.
When the Congolese came to Lagos, they lost 2-1. The Brazzavillle second leg ended 1-1. That was a team with some of Africa’s best- Francois M’Pele, Minga Pepe, Moukila Paul and Jean- Michel M’bono.
The Okala – Owusu battle continued in 1974. At the First Nigeria/ Ghana Sports Festival hosted in Lagos, the Black Stars squared up against Green Eagles twice.
The first match ended goalless. Ghana ran away with the gold medal after Dan Owusu scored the lone and winning goal of the second encounter.
Kwasi and Dan Owusu were not related. The latter saw the former as a mentor. They both played together for Bofoakwa Tano in the Brang Ahafo Region.
A few days back, I asked Okala about Kwasi Owusu.
“I had great respect for Owusu because he didn’t fear any defender. And Owusu knew how to score goals.” Nice tribute, I should say.
The Black Stars deserve much respect. Super Eagles should remember that in 1955, Ghana humiliated Nigeria 7-0 in Accra. Keeper Carl ‘Gentleman’ O’Dwyer did not forget that.
Ghana also beat Nigeria 4-0 in Lagos 62 years ago. Both nations have met 57 times. Nigeria is inferior with 13 wins. The Ghanaians have won 25 times. Matches were drawn 19 times.
In World Cup qualifiers, they have met four times. Ghana won in the Chile ’62 qualifiers. Nigeria avenged that in the Mexico ’70 edition. The Black Stars were better in the West Germany 1974 qualifiers and on the way to Korea/Japan 2002, the Green Eagles booked a place after hitting the Stars 3-0 in Port Harcourt.
That game was funny. Ghanaians and Liberian idol, George Weah said the Black Stars received monetary inducement to lose. Dollars reigned in the Eagles camp anyway, because Rivers State governor, Peter Odili was happy with the ticket.
Ghana lost their goalie to a red card after the mandatory changes had been made. Their skipper moved in as keeper.
Many fail to realise that Nigeria’s first international match was against Ghana (Gold Coast) in 1938. The hosts, captained by Ademola Fashola, won 3-0.
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As the perennial foes prepare for another World Cup qualifier, Eguavoen should remember that Ghana, through Abedi Pele, belittled him at the Senegal ’92 African Nations Cup.
Mutiu Adepoju put Nigeria ahead in that semi finals clash. All looked good until Abedi’s magical moment came through a beautiful equaliser that diminished Eguavoen. Prince Opoku Polley finished it with a 2-1 outcome.
I spent time with Abedi and Opoku after that match in Dakar. Abedi pleaded with Nigerians not to crucify Eguavoen because the goal was so made that no defender could have stopped it.
When I reminded him that Moses Kpakor caged him in Kumasi during the qualifiers, Abedi laughed it off.
“In Kumasi, I was not fit because I was on holidays. In Dakar, Abedi Pele is fit as fiddle.”
Black Stars won 1-0 in Kumasi. Aloy Agu lost a tooth. Ghana won in Dakar. Eguavoen was blamed. Agu and Eguavoen are part of the Eagles technical crew today.
Abedi’s sons, Andre and Jordan are part of the present Black Stars. Andre is captain and has never lost to Nigeria. This is my message.