Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has clarified that the intense football rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria is fueled by competition and national pride, not animosity.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, Gyan addressed longstanding misconceptions about the fixture.
“Ghana and Nigeria is a good rivalry. It is not hatred or something. We always want to challenge ourselves. They always want to beat us in everything, even with Jollof,” Gyan said.
The former Sunderland and Al Ain striker emphasized that the rivalry goes beyond football, spilling into culture, music, and playful banter, while remaining friendly.
“But at the end of the day, we love each other. We are very good rivals. Anybody who says we hate each other, that’s not it. We love each other, but we don’t want the other side to win. Ghana and Nigeria love each other,” he added.
Ghana and Nigeria are among Africa’s most decorated football nations, with their encounters influencing World Cup qualifiers, Africa Cup of Nations campaigns, and regional competitions over decades.
Notably, Ghana eliminated Nigeria from 2022 World Cup qualifying on away goals, while Nigeria has historically prevailed in several AFCON knockout matches.
These results have kept the rivalry alive, fueling passionate discussions among fans and media across both nations.
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