Ghanaians and Nigerians are not necessarily wary people. But when it comes to rice and football, they defend their turf.
This rivalry has become known as Jollof derby, a reference to the local specially prepared rice often eaten with spicy stew. Here is a battle of pride, redemption and supremacy.
Even in sports, as we saw in the build-up to the animated clash between the Black Galaxies of Ghana and the Super Eagles B Team of Nigeria in the ongoing qualifier for the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN), the debate has taken centre stage: whose jollof is better?
Such is the intensity of this rivalry between these two sporting giants that it has spurred sporting competition transcending the pitch.
For the Ghanaians, that was a big missed opportunity as the one with the home advantage. But the Ghanaian side had defeated their Nigerian opponents in a previous encounter in similar circumstances. The Ghanaians eliminated their Nigerian counterparts in the last qualifiers. Although both teams back then won 2-0 on home soil, Ghana advanced on penalty shoot-outs.
The winner will earn a coveted spot in the 2025 CHAN Tournament which is to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Despite the Unesco declaration, the Nigeria-Ghana rivalry continues unabated. Prominent players on both sides have tried to settle scores outside the pitch using the jollof debate.
