Black Stars replica jerseys are selling through high rates on the Kumasi market, with prices surging by 30%.
Despite the fact that soccer supporters in Kumasi are still hurting from the poor performance of the team at the recent African Cup of Nations (AFCON) competition, they remain confident about Ghana’s chances as they meet Nigeria in all-important qualifiers game.
God is Good Sportswear is one of the vibrant wholesale sports shops in Kumasi.
During the AFCON 2021, the business stocked over 1,000 pieces of Black Stars replica jerseys, with the hope of making good sales but led to a disappointment.
Shop owner, Emmanuel Owusu, is however overwhelmed by the current show of support for the Black Stars, which translates into the purchase of jerseys and paraphernalia.
“Even the yellow one which are not liked by many is being accepted. For the white ones, they’re almost finished. Moving the game to Kumasi has helped us,” he said.
Captain of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Ahmed Musa, admits the clash nicknamed ‘Jollof Derby’ is more than a football match.
The sentiment is shared by many, including a former captain of the Black Stars, Sammy Osei Kufuor, who rates the game as one of the biggest games on the African soil.
He further reveals both countries have often played some mind games before the clash on the turf.
“I remember we had a game with Nigeria. Abedi Pele wasn’t in the team but we put his name on the team sheet. They had planned for him, leaving Odartey Lamptey and Tony Yeboah. It was a very tough game,” he explains.
Ghana has dominated the last five matches between the two sides, winning three of them.
One ended in a draw and Nigeria won the other.
The heaviest defeat of the Nigerian national team was served by Ghana in 1955. The game which had the legendary Baba Yara feature ended in 7-0.
“For the jollof you can give it to Ghana, I enjoy it very well but Nigeria is better when it comes to football,” Ifeom Archibiong Akban, a Nigerian who has lived in Ghana for over a decade acknowledged.
He is married to a Ghanaian with children.
“I remember a friend telling me not to use his frontage if Nigeria wins, it’s fun whenever the two teams meet. When Ghana wins, I will be fine. I will be happy, I can’t leave my family because of football. They will laugh at me but life goes on,” he said amid smiles.
For some time, many football fans in Kumasi, the city that qualified the Stars to previous World Cup tournament, lost interest in the national team for poor performance, among other reasons.
But on Thursday, March 24, many gathered at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to have a glimpse of the Black Stars as they prepared for the encounter.
It, however, seems the rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria in the game of football is rejuvenating the love for the Black Stars.
But the Nigerian community in Ghana is ready to match up the home team in terms of numbers at the stadium.
Until the final whistle is blown at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, the talk of superiority among the two countries will continue to dominate conversations.
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