Nigeria’s Black Stallions Battle Ghana in the First Leg of the Inaugural 2019 Ghana-Nigeria Rugby President’s Cup Fixture

The inaugural first of two matches in the 2019 Ghana-Nigeria Rugby President’s Cup is set for an 11 am kick off today, 3 August, 2019 at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, Ghana.

This historic event will also mark the end of the 2019 July West African Rugby Series (WARS) Men’s XVs Ghana Invitational Tournament.

The Ghana-Nigeria President’s Cup was announced earlier this year in March by the Presidents of Ghana Rugby, Mr Herbert Mensah, and the President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Mr Kelechukwu Mbagwu.

Mensah said at the time that a principle decision was reached between himself and Kelechi Mbagwu in Marrakech-Morocco during the 13th General Assembly of Rugby Africa to kickstart possible wider international cooperation with the President’s Cup.

According to Kelechukwu Mbagwu, President of the NRFF, Nigeria and Ghana have had a long and exciting history of sports rivalry.

Ghana Rugby

At the launch announcement, Mbagwu said, “It’s been the very best of rivalries, the rivalry between Siblings. I remember those epic Nigeria/Ghana soccer matches-: the Green Eagles against the Black Stars and the Nigeria/Ghana sports festival when Modupe Oshikoya ran against Alice Annan. Those are the thrilling images I see when I think of this new Nigeria-Ghana tussle.”

The NRFF President continued to say that he is proud and honoured to be amongst the founders of what can only be seen as a traditional coming together of two mighty brothers of whom mother Africa can be justly proud.

Mbagwu concluded by saying, “Ghana have set themselves an extremely high bar with their dynamic and vital President, Herbert Mensah, leading the way but when we get on the field it will be a different story. Long live the Nigeria/Ghana detente.”

Mr Charles Yapo, Rugby Africa Development Manager for the Region, said at the time of the launch that this is a very good initiative that will strengthen the relationship between these two nations in terms of rugby and allow players to have a little more playtime.

“It is also an opportunity to encourage other rugby nations to follow in the footsteps of Ghana and Nigeria. For the 2019 season, Rugby Africa encourages and supports this kind of initiative. Congratulations and Rugby Africa is at your side,” Yapo said.

Ivory Coast has already managed to be crowned WARS Men’s Champions by beating both Ghana and Nigeria. Today’s match will thus also be the deciding match on who will be the runners-up in the historic event that was initiated by Ghana Rugby’s President, Mr Herbert Mensah.