Five-time winners Nigeria engage three-time victors Ghana in a duel that has all the trappings of a classic in the making.
Sharpened by a robust training camp in Libya, Turkey, and Nigeria, the Flying Eagles are propped by nine silver medallists from the 2009 Fifa Under-17 World Cup -10 if we add the coach.
Stand-out midfielder Ramon Azeez, recently snagged by Spanish La Liga side, Almeria FC leades the likes of goalkeepers Danjuma Paul and John Felagha, defender Mohammed Goyi Aliyu, midfielder Abdul Jeleel Ajagun and forwards Olanrewaju Kayode, Edafe Egbedi, Stanley Okoro and Terry Envoh from that Under -17 class of 2009.
Defender Terna Suswan and forward Ahmed Musa have played for the Nigeria senior team and midfielders Gbenga Arokoyo and Emmanuel Anyanwu have true quality and have learnt to collaborate well with the entire unit after months of training camps and friendly matches in three different continents.
To add even more firepower, there is prolific midfielder Chidi Osuchukwu and striker Uche Nwofor who have shown high competence in front of goal.
The cherry on top however, remains Holland-based winger Ahmed Musa, who is now a regular for the Super Eagles and is also on the shopping list of the Olympic team.
He arrived late on Sunday night and is expected to walk straight into the starting line up as Nigeria look primed to add one more to their record five titles.
But not if Ghana have something to say about it.
Fired up by the heroics of their predecessors two years in ago in Rwanda, led by none other than Andrew Ayew, Ghana's class of 2011 have set their sights on a repeat.
Captain Mahatma Otoo has waved any thoughts of pressure aside and is upbeat the squad can carry on from where those left off.
"It's pressure but this team is very focused. The last group did really well but our side did well too in qualifying, scored goals regardless of where we played and that for me is a sign of how well we can cope under pressure," Otoo told KickOffGhana.com.
"We have the team and the capable of doing what the last team did. If all goes well we could even do better."
And that, right there is the warning served to the Nigeria camp, reinforced for added measure "Games between Ghana and Nigeria has always been tough. You can't predict. The team is very ready but we are prepared for that so hopefully Nigeria will fall," he said with emphasis.
Nigeria were forced to leave out two members of their playing staff -Mackson Ojobo and Gomo Onduku -for what was officially described as 'technical reasons' and will now prosecute the competition two men short.
As if that was not enough, star man Ahmed Musa will be commuting between South Africa and Holland, and will not be available for the last group game.
Ghana, by contrast, had only the minor irritation of having to exclude former France youth international Kevin Osei from the final squad after delays in acquiring a Ghanaian passport for him. Marseille-born Osei, who captained the French Under-17 side and is on the books of Olympique Marseille, was part of the squad that spent time in a training camp Nairobi.
But the Ghana team have more than enough quality to go all the way.
After hosts South Africa were handed a 4-2 humiliation by Mali in Sunday's opening game, the crowds thinned down for the second. But with the fare expected to be served up between these two, there should be more than enough reason to fill up the stands.
Kickoff is at 11 am Nigeria time (10 am Ghana time) and will be live across the continent on SuperSport 9, and on Nigerian terrestrial TV on NTA. CLICK HERE for all the AYC news, results, fixtures and tables.
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Nigeria 1 vs Ghana 0 30mins gone
45 + 2’ – HALF TIME. Ghana 1 Nigeria 1.
45 + 1’ – There will be one minute of injury time.
45’ – Richmond Nketiah with a corner kick for Ghana, again they threaten aerially but no goal this time!
44’ – Ghana float a free kick into the box, the ball falls for Kwame Nsor who pulls his shot wide! What a wasted opportunity!
43’ – Enoch Andoh with a shot from the edge of the box but he rather slices it and the ball loops away high and wide.
42’ – Ahmed Musa in space on the right flank but his attempted cross is simply awful and out for a goal kick to Ghana.
41’ – Ahmed Musa is perhaps harshy penalised as he look to pressure Alhassan Masahudu. Free kick Ghana in their own half…
40’ – Another easy take for James Achampong as Nigeria’s final ball continues to disappoint.
39’ – Philemon Daniel is receiving some treatment now. The heavy, cut-up pitch will take a few casualties today…
38’ – Nigeria float a free kick into the Ghana box but James Achampong can let it pass for a goal kick.
37’ – Ahmed Musa tries the outside-of-the-foot cross from the left flank but it’s easily taken in by James Achampong.
35’ – Richmond Nketiah with a great cross from the right but Philemon Daniel gets it away with a super header clear.
34’ – Mohammed Aliyu takes the corner but nothing comes of it for Nigeria. Now Ghana break forward on the counter and Alhassan Masahudu drives an effort wide of the target.
33’ – Ahmed Musa with a long range try that deflects off a Ghana defender and loops just over the bar! Corner kick…
32’ – GOAL! Ghana 1 Nigeria 1. Richmond Nketiah crosses from the corner to the near post, Kwame Nsor scores with a glancing header! It’s 1-1!
31’ – Paul Danjuma with a sharp save that hands Ghana another corner kick.
30’ – Ahmed Musa almost slips past the last defender but Karim Alhassan does just enough to win the ball.
29’ – Ghana with a corner kick but, after playing it short initially, their delivery is poor and straight out for a goal kick.
28’ – Paul Danjuma collects a cross for Nigeria. He’s definitely seen more of the ball than his counterpart, though the team in green have had the better scoring chances.
27’ – Mohammed Aliyu crosses to the far post from the set piece but Ghana defend it well this time.
26’ – Yellow card: Addae Bright goes into the book for the challenge that gave away the free kick.
25’ – Innocent Nwofor seemingly with a chance for a second but the flag has gone up. Nigeria have a free kick wide on their right.
24’ – Richmond Nketiah with a long range shot for Ghana but the ball skids well wide of the goal.
23’ – Ghana with a free kick about 30 metres from goal. Alhassan Masahudu floats it in left-footed but Nigeria get it clear.
22’ – A long throw-in bounces through to Kwame Nsor but his header is straight at Paul Danjuma.
21’ – Addae Bright tries an ambitious long range effort but it’s way off target.
20’ – Twenty minutes played and it is Nigeria who are in the ascendancy, 1-0 up.
19’ – Almost an immediate reply for Ghana, with Kwame Nsor looking very dangerous, but Nigeria get it clear!
18’ – That’s just the start Nigeria would have been hoping for! As for Ghana, that was awful defending: both Abdul Ajagun and Innocent Nwofor were unmarked!
17’ – GOAL! Ghana 0 Nigeria 1. A deflected cross from the right, Abdul Ajagun flicks on and Innocent Nwofor fires home the opening goal!
16’ – Paul Danjuma drops a cross in the box but he recovers quick to ensure there is no danger.
15’ – Nigeria are mixing it up in attack, using the pace and skill of Ahmed Musa but occasionally throwing up a long ball for the lanky Innocent Nwofor.
14’ – Chidi Osuchukwu tries his luck from the free kick but it skips tamely away for a goal kick to the Ghanaians.
13’ – Great stuff from Ahmed Musa as he surges past a couple of challenges. The referee has awarded Nigeria a free kick in a dangerous position about 30 metres from goal.
12’ – Enoch Andoh chops down Gbenga Arokoya with the first nasty-looking challenge of the game. No injuries and no cards, thankfully.
11’ – And now it’s Ghana’s turn to have a man offside, as the flag goes up for Kwame Nsor.
10’ – Nigeria with a threatening move but Ahmed Musa is flagged offside.
9’ – Innocent Nwofor gets his head to a hopeful long ball for Nigeria but it results in nothing more than a goal kick for the Black Satellites.
8’ – Richmond Boakye skins a couple of Nigeria defenders before squaring for Kwame Nsor but the ball is away for a goal kick to Nigeria. Close shave!
7’ – Mohammed Aliyu crosses from the left but it’s a poor one, away for a goal kick to Ghana.
6’ – Nigeria goalkeeper Paul Danjuma makes a good low interception as Ghana play in a cross from the right.
5’ – Abdul Ajagun tries a through ball for Ahmed Musa but it’s just a touch too strong for the Dutch-based attacker to get onto.
4’ – Ghana break forward on the counter, it looks as if they have some real speedsters in their team.
3’ – Ahmed Musa breaks free down the right and wins the first corner kick for Nigeria. Peter Suswam takes the set piece but it’s well defended by Ghana.
2’ – The pitch looks in better shape than during yesterday’s games, so clearly the groundstaff have done some sterling work overnight.
1’ – We are underway in this Group B match! Both teams wear their preferred colours: Ghana in white, Nigeria in green.
– We have had the national anthems at Dobsonville, now it’s time for the action to get underway. Our referee today is Badara Diatta from Senegal.
– This promises to be a cracker of a match that could go a long way toward deciding just who advances into the semifinals from this pool…
– It’s a grudge match between two huge West African rivals. Nigeria are the most successful team in the history of the African U-20 tournament, while Ghana are the defending champions after their triumph on home soil in 2009.
– Good day and welcome to MTNfootball.com’s live Play-by-Play coverage of the African Youth Championship Group B match between Ghana and Nigeria from the Dobsonville Stadium.
Ghana starting line-up: Achampong James Akwasi, Nketiah Richmond, Masahudu Alhassan, Andoh Enoch Ebo, Nsor Kwame, Bissue James, Sumaila Rashid, Alhassan Karim, Otoo Mahatma Osumanu, Addae Bright, Boakye Yiadom Richmond.
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45 + 2’ – HALF TIME. Ghana 1 Nigeria 1.
45 + 1’ – There will be one minute of injury time.
45’ – Richmond Nketiah with a corner kick for Ghana, again they threaten aerially but no goal this time!
44’ – Ghana float a free kick into the box, the ball falls for Kwame Nsor who pulls his shot wide! What a wasted opportunity!
43’ – Enoch Andoh with a shot from the edge of the box but he rather slices it and the ball loops away high and wide.
42’ – Ahmed Musa in space on the right flank but his attempted cross is simply awful and out for a goal kick to Ghana.
41’ – Ahmed Musa is perhaps harshy penalised as he look to pressure Alhassan Masahudu. Free kick Ghana in their own half…
40’ – Another easy take for James Achampong as Nigeria’s final ball continues to disappoint.
39’ – Philemon Daniel is receiving some treatment now. The heavy, cut-up pitch will take a few casualties today…
38’ – Nigeria float a free kick into the Ghana box but James Achampong can let it pass for a goal kick.
37’ – Ahmed Musa tries the outside-of-the-foot cross from the left flank but it’s easily taken in by James Achampong.
35’ – Richmond Nketiah with a great cross from the right but Philemon Daniel gets it away with a super header clear.
34’ – Mohammed Aliyu takes the corner but nothing comes of it for Nigeria. Now Ghana break forward on the counter and Alhassan Masahudu drives an effort wide of the target.
33’ – Ahmed Musa with a long range try that deflects off a Ghana defender and loops just over the bar! Corner kick…
32’ – GOAL! Ghana 1 Nigeria 1. Richmond Nketiah crosses from the corner to the near post, Kwame Nsor scores with a glancing header! It’s 1-1!
31’ – Paul Danjuma with a sharp save that hands Ghana another corner kick.
30’ – Ahmed Musa almost slips past the last defender but Karim Alhassan does just enough to win the ball.
29’ – Ghana with a corner kick but, after playing it short initially, their delivery is poor and straight out for a goal kick.
28’ – Paul Danjuma collects a cross for Nigeria. He’s definitely seen more of the ball than his counterpart, though the team in green have had the better scoring chances.
27’ – Mohammed Aliyu crosses to the far post from the set piece but Ghana defend it well this time.
26’ – Yellow card: Addae Bright goes into the book for the challenge that gave away the free kick.
25’ – Innocent Nwofor seemingly with a chance for a second but the flag has gone up. Nigeria have a free kick wide on their right.
24’ – Richmond Nketiah with a long range shot for Ghana but the ball skids well wide of the goal.
23’ – Ghana with a free kick about 30 metres from goal. Alhassan Masahudu floats it in left-footed but Nigeria get it clear.
22’ – A long throw-in bounces through to Kwame Nsor but his header is straight at Paul Danjuma.
21’ – Addae Bright tries an ambitious long range effort but it’s way off target.
20’ – Twenty minutes played and it is Nigeria who are in the ascendancy, 1-0 up.
19’ – Almost an immediate reply for Ghana, with Kwame Nsor looking very dangerous, but Nigeria get it clear!
18’ – That’s just the start Nigeria would have been hoping for! As for Ghana, that was awful defending: both Abdul Ajagun and Innocent Nwofor were unmarked!
17’ – GOAL! Ghana 0 Nigeria 1. A deflected cross from the right, Abdul Ajagun flicks on and Innocent Nwofor fires home the opening goal!
16’ – Paul Danjuma drops a cross in the box but he recovers quick to ensure there is no danger.
15’ – Nigeria are mixing it up in attack, using the pace and skill of Ahmed Musa but occasionally throwing up a long ball for the lanky Innocent Nwofor.
14’ – Chidi Osuchukwu tries his luck from the free kick but it skips tamely away for a goal kick to the Ghanaians.
13’ – Great stuff from Ahmed Musa as he surges past a couple of challenges. The referee has awarded Nigeria a free kick in a dangerous position about 30 metres from goal.
12’ – Enoch Andoh chops down Gbenga Arokoya with the first nasty-looking challenge of the game. No injuries and no cards, thankfully.
11’ – And now it’s Ghana’s turn to have a man offside, as the flag goes up for Kwame Nsor.
10’ – Nigeria with a threatening move but Ahmed Musa is flagged offside.
9’ – Innocent Nwofor gets his head to a hopeful long ball for Nigeria but it results in nothing more than a goal kick for the Black Satellites.
8’ – Richmond Boakye skins a couple of Nigeria defenders before squaring for Kwame Nsor but the ball is away for a goal kick to Nigeria. Close shave!
7’ – Mohammed Aliyu crosses from the left but it’s a poor one, away for a goal kick to Ghana.
6’ – Nigeria goalkeeper Paul Danjuma makes a good low interception as Ghana play in a cross from the right.
5’ – Abdul Ajagun tries a through ball for Ahmed Musa but it’s just a touch too strong for the Dutch-based attacker to get onto.
4’ – Ghana break forward on the counter, it looks as if they have some real speedsters in their team.
3’ – Ahmed Musa breaks free down the right and wins the first corner kick for Nigeria. Peter Suswam takes the set piece but it’s well defended by Ghana.
2’ – The pitch looks in better shape than during yesterday’s games, so clearly the groundstaff have done some sterling work overnight.
1’ – We are underway in this Group B match! Both teams wear their preferred colours: Ghana in white, Nigeria in green.
– We have had the national anthems at Dobsonville, now it’s time for the action to get underway. Our referee today is Badara Diatta from Senegal.
– This promises to be a cracker of a match that could go a long way toward deciding just who advances into the semifinals from this pool…
– It’s a grudge match between two huge West African rivals. Nigeria are the most successful team in the history of the African U-20 tournament, while Ghana are the defending champions after their triumph on home soil in 2009.
– Good day and welcome to MTNfootball.com’s live Play-by-Play coverage of the African Youth Championship Group B match between Ghana and Nigeria from the Dobsonville Stadium.
Ghana starting line-up: Achampong James Akwasi, Nketiah Richmond, Masahudu Alhassan, Andoh Enoch Ebo, Nsor Kwame, Bissue James, Sumaila Rashid, Alhassan Karim, Otoo Mahatma Osumanu, Addae Bright, Boakye Yiadom Richmond.