It is exactly one month today  to the first of two World Cup qualifying play-off, Ghanaian publication, Ghanaweb is recalling a 5-0 defeat of Nigeria in a duel played 59 years ago.

 

On that day, 24 February 1963, in Accra, the Black Stars defeated the then Green Eagles 5-0 to qualify for the final of the Kwame Nkrumah Cup.

 

The publication went ahead to recall the flowery description of the match by another Ghanaian newspaper. 'The Black Stars playing like the real emperors led 1-0 at half time.

'They came back in the second half to overwhelm the Green Eagles (now Super Eagles) who had no answer to their copybook soccer.

 

'Scorers for Ghana were inside right Mfum (brace), Aggrey –Fynn,  Baba Yara and Edward Acquah.

 

'Ghana kicked off and for the first three minutes harassed Nigerian goalmouth.

 

'Mfum was put through thrice but was superbly checked by the Nigerian right back, Nwosu.

 

'A typical Baba Yara pass found Edward Acquah at inside left who headed a neat ball, goalkeeper Ezekwe had to dive full length to concede a corner kick.

 

'Nigeria forced the tide in their favour. Their centre forward, Ekpe, thrilled the crowd with his dribbling but inside left Hamilton always shot over the bar.

 

'In the eighth minute, right-winger Kwame Adarkwa with his typical body swerve, beat three Nigerian defenders in a row, passed to Mfum who missed the post by inches.<

 

'But barely five minutes later, a beautiful Baba Yara pass went straight to Mfum. He trapped it and with, his usual bulldozing manner, cut through the Nigerian defense and gracefully beat goalkeeper Ezekwe to put Ghana ahead.

 

'That goal really inspired the Black Stars. Their characteristic shot passes were in full cry and the Nigerians could not find their feet.

 

'Halftime came with Ghana leading with one goal. Ghana resumed the second half with a terrific bang and for sometime kept the Nigerians under heavy pressure, but a number of scoring chances were wasted

 

'Aggrey-Fynn increased Ghana's lead in the 65th minute from a penalty kick.

'Mfum, the hero of the day weaved his way through a bunch of Nigerian defenders when right back Nwokedi brought him heavily in the penalty box.

 

'Senegalese referee Moustafa did not hasten to award a penalty kick and Aggrey- Fynn made no mistake about it. "King of West African wingers", Baba Yara in a solo effort scored Ghana's number three goal in the 70th minute.

'It was a long pass from Ben Simmons which reached Yara.

 

'Yara made a quick dash through the Nigerian defenders and after bamboozling goalkeeper, Ezekwe he beautifully placed the ball right in the corner of the net.

 

'Nigeria were completely out of the game from that moment. All their passes went the wrong way and the Black Stars treated them with cheeky ease.

 

'In the 81st minute left-winger, Tetteh Akrong put Mfum through to score a beautiful goal to give Ghana a comfortable 4 -0 lead

 

'With a minute to full-time Edward Acquah sealed Ghana's victory with a powerful shot.

 

Line-up

Ghana: Dodoo Ankrah, Anum Okai, E. O. Oblitey, E. J. Aggrey-Fynn, Addo Odametey, Ben Simmons, Kwame Adarkwa, Wilberforce Mfum, Baba Yara, Edward Acquah, Tetteh Akrong

 

Nigeria: Ezekwe, Nwosu, Shotayo, Nwokedi, Oduah, Remi, Osah, Edguonu, Ekpe, Hamilton, Iyamu