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CELEBRATIONS: Nigeria fans celebrate after winning the African Cup of Nations football

NIGERIA - GHANA. Ghana-Nigeria. The Coke and Pepsi of Africa – black, sweet, popular at each other’s expense and consistently at each other’s throats. Easily the greatest comic rivalry this side of Tom and Jerry or Homer and Bart. The best of frenemies. The spice of each other’s lives.

In order to understand this rivalry in modern times you need to understand something about Nigerian arrogance and Ghanaian cockiness.

Nigeria is a very large, natural resource rich (and even richer in human capital) nation. The ‘most populous black nation on earth’. The ‘African equivalent of the United States’. The ‘Giant of Africa’ (starting to notice where the arrogance comes from?). In Nigeria you’re either somebody or you’re nobody. And nobody accepts that they are nobody. So everyone thinks they are somebody... or will be somebody soon. Based on all of the above – the psyche of Nigeria and Nigerians is largely arrogant and proud. This arrogance and pride, however, drives Nigeria’s work ethic, pushes Nigerians to strive for better and never accept failure.

Ghana on the other hand is a small (relative to Nigeria) nation that was not, until recently, rich in any hotly demanded resource (other than Gold and Cocoa). Population size is less than 20 percent of Nigeria’s. Ghanaians are a largely united, deeply patriotic and (like Nigerians), hard working people. Ghanaian cockiness is driven largely by two undeniable facts: they were the first sub-Saharan African nation to attain independence and have punched well above their weight ever since. In simple human terms: Ghana is Ed Miliband - somehow out-achieving its much more gifted yet often miserable elder brother, Nigeria.

Ghana has been on a roll in recent times. Now regarded as the model African democracy, its popular culture is globally celebrated (if it wasn’t for Gangnam Style, 2012 would have been the year of Azonto), peaceful, economically buoyant and doing well at football. Even Obama in his heyday considered Ghana the best place to pick to make his speech to Africa. Don’t get me wrong – Nigeria has been doing very well in each of these areas (other than the peace part thanks to Boko Haram) but Ghana always seemed to do it to greater fanfare.

PRIDE

Football has become a very important aspect of African life. It has become a source of pride and indeed identity. For example, when Nigeria scores a goal in a major competition it is one of the few times all Nigerians are really united or even see themselves as Nigerians.

Even though they won nothing, Ghana’s performances in recent major competitions have been disturbing to Nigerians. Why? Because Nigeria put the wind in their sails. And of all places, they did so in England. Brentford to be precise. Back in 2007, in what has to be one of the greatest pieces of advertising fraud ever – a Nigeria vs Ghana ‘friendly’ match was staged at the Brentford FC football ground. Even though I’m of joint Nigerian and Ghanaian decent I foolishly showed up in my Nigeria jersey without knowing which side of supporters I’d be sat with. Of course, my luck rendered me the only Nigerian in a sea of Ghanaians. Throughout the match I was poked and pushed.

Then one of the worse moments of my life occurred. Ghana scored. During the immense celebration – in what may or may not have been a coordinated attack – a horn was placed directly on my ear and blown at full volume whilst someone simultaneously poured water over my head and the pushes quickly became shoves.

Ghana ended 15 years of losing to Nigeria by going on to win the match (now known as the ‘Brentford Massacre’) by 4 goals to 1. And from that moment on, they did not look back. Until last Wednesday that is.

Last Wednesday February 6, Nigeria played Mali in the semi-final of the African Cup of Nations whilst Ghana played Burkina Faso. A classic Nigeria vs Ghana final seemed to be on the cards. And given the quality displayed by both teams (lack thereof in the case of Ghana) throughout the tournament – it looked like the Brentford Massacre was about to be avenged when it mattered most. In the end Ghana escaped by convincingly losing to Burkino Faso and Nigeria went on to win the cup in style.

Things fall apart. Ghana can only rely on their international darling child status for so long. Big brother Nigeria is back in a big way. And not just in footballing terms – culturally, politically and economically too. David Miliband may wish to pay attention.