Sports
Ghana vs. Nigeria: A rivalry renewed in the 2025 Unity Cup Semifinal – Preview
The Black Stars of Ghana will lock horns with Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the semifinal of the 2025 Unity Cup at the GTech Community Stadium on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. This highly anticipated matchup is a rematch of the 2022 FIFA World Cup playoffs, where Ghana emerged victorious with a 1-1 score after a goalless draw at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
Coach Otto Addo will lead a youthful squad, missing key players like Mohammed Kudus, Kamal Deen Sulemana, Thomas Teye Partey, and Inaki Williams. The Black Stars aim to avenge their 2-1 loss to Nigeria in March last year and progress to the final, building on their recent wins in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.
The rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria, famously known as the “Jollof derby,” has a rich history, with 56 encounters between the two teams. Ghana leads with 22 wins, while Nigeria has 13 victories, and 21 draws. The Super Eagles have won three of their last five meetings, including the last encounter being the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) qualifier in Uyo.
Otto Addo expressed his excitement ahead of the match, acknowledging the importance of the rivalry and the potential to get fans back on track with a win. The Black Stars will feature Jordan Ayew and a mix of experienced and young players, while Nigeria will rely on talents like Wilfried Ndidi, Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Simon Moses, Frank Onyeka, Stanley Nwabali and Samuel Chukwueze following the absence of Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
The match is scheduled for May 28, 2025, at 19:45 GMT at the GTech Community Stadium, the home ground of English Premier League side Brentford FC.
The winner will face Jamaica in the final on Saturday, May 31, 2025.
Officials from the Ghana mission in the United Arab Emirates have paid a morale-boosting visit to the camp of the Black Queens.
The delegation, made up of Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto, Consul and Head of Chancery Abdul-Jalil Sigli Yakubu Abdulai and Head of Transport Anas Shaibu, visited the team to assure them of the government’s support and commitment to their safety and welfare.
During the visit, the officials interacted with the team and offered words of encouragement, urging the team to remain focused on the tournament despite concerns surrounding unrest in parts of the UAE.
Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto emphasised that the Ghanaian government, through its diplomatic mission, is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to ensuring the team’s safety throughout their stay.
“We want the team to stay calm and focus on the competition. The government and the embassy are doing everything possible to ensure your safety and well-being.” he said.
Consul and Head of Chancery Abdul-Jalil Sigli Yakubu Abdulai also reiterated the mission’s readiness to provide any assistance required by the team during the tournament.
Leadership of the team expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as timely and motivating.
With the backing of Ghana’s diplomatic officials in the UAE, the Black Queens remain determined to represent the country proudly and deliver strong performances in the Pink Ladies Cup.
The Black Queens have arrived in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the upcoming Pink Ladies Cup in Dubai. The team touched down at the Dubai International Airport via Emirates Air on Wednesday morning and were warmly received by the competition’s organising officials.
The squad will be based at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, where they will begin their final preparations for the tournament. Organised as part of the international women’s football calendar, the Pink Ladies Cup is expected to feature four national sides using the competition to assess their squads and fine-tune strategies for upcoming tournaments.
Ghana will open their campaign today with a clash against Hong Kong, while Russia and Tanzania face off in the other opening match.
The Black Queens are then scheduled to return to action on March 3, when they take on Russia in a match expected to test them against a physically strong opponent.
The final round of games will be played on March 6, with Ghana closing their campaign against Tanzania at 9:00 pm.
With three matches in eight days, the tournament promises to be a crucial phase in Ghana’s preparation, as the Black Queens aim to return to continental action sharper, stronger, and more competitive.
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