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Are we serious about World Cup play-off …against Nigeria?
A Ghana v Nigeria game is a mammoth engagement any time, any day. There is no shred of doubt about this assertion.
It could be a mere friendly, yet, you can trust any Black Stars-Super Eagles game to be contested with all the verve and venom they can muster and spit out at each other.
Indeed, there have been several battles between the two Gullivers of the continental game, and each time, it was fought with unfathomable energy and passion. It does not really matter what was at stake. And, such games have attracted the cynosure of all eyes, too.
Ghana has managed to establish a stranglehold on Nigeria. In the 56 times that they have met, the Stars beamed away with 25 wins as compared to Nigeria’s 12.
That sounds great, right. However, with the current form of Nigeria – per what they advertised at the just-ended Cameroon AFCON, it would take something extraordinary to crack them in our next meeting. While the Super Eagles lost to Tunisia at the last-16 stage, Ghana were shock first-round casualties, finishing rock-bottom of Group C with just a point, after a stunning 3-2 loss to minnows Comoros.
The Eagles are seeking to qualify for the World Cup a seventh time and, since 1994, have missed only one of seven editions. The last of three appearances by Ghana was in Brazil 2014.
Indeed, the Super Eagles have been itching to punish the Stars in a manner that the four-time African champions and World Cup quarter-finalists would never forget. It is not about enacting revenge; it is about getting the bragging rights over a country that has been a thorn in their flesh since the mid-50s till now. You remember the ego-shattering 7-0 white-washing the Eagles suffered at the ‘sadistic’ hands of the Stars in 1955?
Aside the bragging rights, next month’s World Cup play-off has a lot at stake as the Super Eagles are eager to make the cut to Qatar in order to placate livid Nigerians whose dream of a fourth Nations Cup coronation ended at the round of 16 stage in the just-ended Cameroon AFCON. To secure that berth, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed former national star Emmanuel Amunike as chief coach of the Eagles and charged together with the Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen to secure qualification for the 2022 World Cup, which is expected to roar off in November.
Clearly, Nigeria seems to be approaching the Ghana game with some level of seriousness and urgency as compared to their Ghanaian counterparts, having put together their technical team earlier. They are not taking anything for granted at all, in spite of their relatively bravura performance in the Cameroon AFCON.
Qualifying for a mammoth tournament as the World Cup involves a lot of strategic planning and focus. That is what we expect from Ghana, especially with regard to putting together a formidable Technical Team to surmount the Himalayan task ahead.
Well, as of press time (Wednesday), a whispering from a bird pointed to advanced arrangement by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to settle on former Newcastle United manager, Chris Hughton – an idol of the government, as permanent coach of the Black Stars. For now, he would act in Technical Director capacity, whilst FA favourite and Borussia Dortmund’s Assistant Coach Otto Addo, assume temporary charge of the team for the World Cup play-off with Nigeria.
It is said whatever the upshot of the play-off, the 63-year-old Hughton, an Irish with a Ghanaian mum, would become the substantive trainer of the Stars. Smart move! Clearly, if he was appointed the head coach now and failed in his bid to qualify the Stars to Qatar, Ghanaians would descend on him call for his head – and that could affect his future with the senior national team.
Let us pray for the Black Stars and hope the authorities get it right this time around. We have got to be serious and work with ruthless intensity towards the Nigerian game – especially as regards the call-ups we make ahead of that ferocious adventure.
By John Vigah
The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) says it generated US$1.011 billion in foreign exchange from its artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) gold trade operations in October 2026.
According to the GoldBod, the entire amount was sold to authorised commercial banks through its GoldBod GoFX platform to support stability in the foreign exchange market.
In an announcement issued on Monday, November 2, the Board projected to generate US$1.2 billion in foreign exchange from its ASM gold trade operations in November.
It added that US$800 million of the projected amount would be made available to commercial banks to support foreign exchange market stability.
GoldBod said the sales would be conducted through its GoFX platform in line with the approved FX Sales and Intermediation Framework to ensure transparency, fairness and regulatory compliance.
The Board reaffirmed its commitment to generating foreign exchange for the country and supporting the Bank of Ghana’s foreign reserve accumulation under the Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation Policy (GANRAP).
By: Jacob Aggrey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened applications for members interested in contesting as its parliamentary candidates in the 2028 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the party said interested members must declare their intention to contest between Sunday, November 1, and Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
According to the statement signed by the party’s Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, prospective candidates must complete an online form within the specified period.
The party said a non-refundable application fee of GH¢5,000 would be charged to each prospective candidate.
It added that all applicants would undergo vetting and screening to determine their eligibility to contest on the party’s ticket.
The NPP announced plans to organise capacity-building workshops for prospective candidates in December 2026. The workshops will be held across the Northern, Middle and Southern zones, with details of the venues to be announced later.
The party stressed that the guidelines would apply to all prospective candidates, including sitting NPP Members of Parliament who wish to contest again.
It further warned aspirants against starting campaign activities following the opening of the application process.
According to the statement, the existing directive prohibiting campaign activities remains in force until the party gives official clearance.
It cautioned that anyone who violates the directive would face appropriate sanctions under the party’s constitution and regulations.
The NPP said the process was designed to promote fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for all aspirants as it prepares to select candidates for all 276 constituencies ahead of the 2028 elections.
It urged prospective candidates to follow the guidelines and conduct themselves with discipline and respect for one another throughout the process.
The party said its broader objective was to strengthen unity within its ranks and rebuild public confidence ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
