The inaugural first of two matches in the 2019 Ghana-Nigeria Rugby President’s Cup is set to kick off Today, August 3, 2019, at 11 am at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina Ghana.
Team Nigeria that faced the Ivory Coast on 28 July 2019.
This historic event will also mark the end of the 2019, July WARS (West African Rugby Series) Men’s XVs Ghana Invitational Tournament.
The Ghana-Nigeria Presidents’ Cup was announced in March by the Presidents’ of Ghana Rugby, Herbert Mensah, and the President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Kelechukwu Mbagwu.
Mr. 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.
“Everybody knows that the tournament structure of Rugby Africa falls short to give Rugby nations in Africa enough match exposure to ‘breed’ the next Rugby World Cup participants besides for South Africa and Namibia. Even Rugby Africa has asked Members to seriously look at friendly internationals between regional states,” Mensah said.
According to Kelechukwu Mbagwu, President of the NRFF, Nigeria and Ghana have had a long and exciting history of sports rivalry.
At the launch Mbagwu said announced that: “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.”
Rugby Africa Development Manager for the Region, Charles Yapo, 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.
The match will also mark the end of the July 2019 WARS Men’s XVs Ghana Invitational Tournament.
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 initiated that was initiated by Ghana Rugby’s President, Mr. Herbert Mensah.
The 1st leg of the 2019, Ghana-Nigeria President’s Cup was made possible with contributions from Sunda International and GB Foods with their Gino brands.
The lineups for the match between Nigeria and the Ivory Coast were:
Nigeria
First XV: 22. Sunday Bassey
2. Umar Ibrahim Suraj
3. Godwin Dina Otoro JR
4. Isaac Cato Sani
5. John Terseer Kura
6. Alex Onome Richard
7. Ekubi Samuel Ekpo
8. Jude Peter Abrakson
9. Hassan Muhammed
10. Nuhu Ibrahim Samila
11. Alfred Sunday Oche
12. Joshua Effiong Etim
13. Onori-Oyiza Jude Emmanuel Jatto
14. Abdulmalik Atomuhaku Salihu
15. Gebriel Etim John
Substitutes:
Mohammad Ahmad Umar
1. Ricky Ezenwa Nwagbara
17. Abduljelili Adeniyi Adeshina
18. Suleimon Olatunde Abdulganiyu
19. David Kazeem Oyekanmi
20. Monday Henry Omoragieva
21. Jeremiah Peter
23. Ezikiel Essien Tom
Coach: Bronson Weir
Ghana; First XV:
1. Andrews Kwamena Amissah
2. Prince Boamah
3. Christian Percy Adamson
4. Calestus Bosoka
5. Micheal Arthur
6. Gideon Klugey
7. Alexander Dorpenyo
8. Eric Tettegah
9. Richard Kwesi
10. Francis Kweku Mensah-Donkor
11. Solomon Baba Akumba
12. Michael Acquay
13. Jerry Danquah
14. Kofi Montchon
15. Abdul Jalilu Yussif
Substitutes:16. Abdul Wahid Illiasu
24. Seidu Ibrahim
18. Jason Kweku Dzata
19. Lukman Yaya
25. Eric Acquah
21. John Donkor
22. Emmanuel Terakuu
23. Suwabiru Salim Amuzuloh
Coach: Lovemore ‘Dallas’ Kuzorera
Match Officials: Match Referee:Mathias Bvepfepfe (Zimbabwe)
Assistant Referees: Jeffrey Chiwanda (Zimbabwe) and Clement Dennis (Ghana)
