When Ghana’s Michael Essien was substituted yesterday, January 05, 2014, during the third rounds of an English FA Cup match between Derby and Chelsea, it was to Nigeria’s Mikel Obi he handed over the captain’s band.

The Special one later said he had expected the Ghanaian to pass on the leadership mantle to left-back, Ashly Cole, but Essien probably had other things in his mind. Essien’s action gestures towards another instance of the comradely possibilities which can exist between Nigeria and Ghana, despite growing subtle political and economic rivalry. Besides African literature that evince the criticality of sharedness and brotherly solidarity between the two West African countries, the match showed again that individuals and nations can be friends despite differences.

Football fans recall the 2009 Champions league semi-final against Barca, in which Essien, having scored a long-range goal, evaded all his team mates on the pitch and ran to the Chelsea bench to hug Mikel, who had predicted before match start that Essien would score a goal. Such solidarity, on and off the pitch, has been consistent with many black players in the EPL. The Ghana-must-go saga of the 80s may still be fresh among a generation of our West African neighbours, yet this cannot be a justification of continued hostility towards Nigerians in Kumasi or Accra; neither should we continue to condone the many insalubrious tensions between some Nigerians and naive Ghanaians on many internet forums.

Calling ourselves names and not facing the unnecessary possibility of enmity between us is not good enough. There are many Nigerians in Ghana, and they have found a home there. Some even report experiencing more love from Ghanaians than from their Nigerian legion there. Similarly, there are in Nigeria citizens from Ghana whom some of us love, and are proud to call friends. This should continue. The emergence of Ghana as an economic powerhouse in West Africa should be a pride to Nigeria, and other countries in the region.

As it stands now, Mourinho prefers Mikel to Essien in the Chelsea first eleven, and even when many coaches have come and gone in the team, Mikel, unlike Essien, has commanded a consistent presence in the starting eleven. This has not soiled their friendship. Africans have more reasons to be united than to be envious of one another. The Nigeria-Kenya internet squabble of last year was not needful. If the colonial project sowed seeds of discord many years ago, we cannot continue to water them with the acidic liquids of rivalry.

South Sudan and Central African Republic may be far from us, but we have brothers and sisters there who are currently being ravished by ruthless sympathies of the gun. It is time to say a prayer, and remember friendship. And dialogue!

4get those e-war btw ghana nd 9ja we knw its just 4 fun. 9ja nd uruguay lyk 5nd6

M

Let's see how many pages this thread gets. Both Nigerians and Ghanaians love those e wars. Reality is we are the closest two african countries but if read some of these threads you will think we are enemies. Luv my Nigerian bros and luv to poke fun at them.

We r like two brodas who for obvious reasons like to fight wit each other all d time

Coughing

My husband is a ghanian...

Essien no be calabar boy?

#Justasking

Good write up bt NIGERiA is still beta than GHANA in football

OP a jug of Asaana and a bowl of Banku to you.

Essien is a great guy. Majority of Ghanaian football followers are not. I remember jsut before the final of the 2008 olympics between Nigeria and Argentina, where one Ghanaian user on Ghanaweb said he would commit suicide if Nigeria won. Since that day, I stopped supproting Ghana in any competition. I supported Uruguay against then in SA 2010.

Cool.. But we Nigerians need to love ourselves first, den our relationship with other african countries would definitely improve..

Abeg guys, show love to me and check out this THIS WEBSITE

prem love: Good write up bt NIGERiA is still beta than GHANA in football

Did u read the Write Up at all.. Who is asking about the better 1 here..

We are talking about Harmony, Love, Peace and Progress Here..

Gud 1

I like it

martha: My husband is a ghanian...

Good write up.

We had a neighbour who was Ghanian. He relocated and came back 5yrs later with his wife and child. Just to show my parents and let his wife see those people who were very nice to him. He believes Nigerians are kind.

It's just myopic people that hate. I don't do hate. I just click the ignore button

Its nigeria or ghana to lift d trophy

feeling like Essien and Mikel tonight

One love.

Cool! now dat we've found a common ground, can someone please rub me some charcoal? *black & proud*

Why are Ghanaians claiming to be greater than Nigeria

Jarus: Essien is a great guy. Majority of Ghanaian football followers are not. I remember jsut before the final of the 2008 olympics between Nigeria and Argentina, where one Ghanaian user on Ghanaweb said he would commit suicide if Nigeria won. Since that day, I stopped supproting Ghana in any competition. I supported Uruguay against then in SA 2010.

You stopped supporting Ghana because of ONE comment made by some random anonymous user? And how exactly does your singular experience translate to the 'majority'?

Even though we fight e-war we dnt really hate one another, Nigerians really love our Ghananian Brothers. 1 LOVE AFRICA!

For some of us that wrote w a e c around 1988 cannot forget ghananians all our phy chem bio and math teachers are ghananians .we are brothers no matter what.

Good write-up. I always support Ghana. The only time I don't do so is when they are playing Nigeria.

Love is the key.

ZEN: OP a jug of Asaana and a bowl of Banku to you.

yes!

GO NIGERIA
GO GHANA

Purist:

You stopped supporting Ghana because of ONE comment made by some random anonymous user? And how exactly does your singular experience translate to the 'majority'?

That was just the height. I have been a member of Ghanaweb long enough (for about 6 years now) to know the level of general hatred.