The last two African teams remaining in the tournament clash in our second quarter-final. Ghana (managed by Jonathan Bogart) made it here by beating Algeria, while defending champions Nigeria (managed by Cis) saw off France. The winner faces either Japan or Chile for a place in the final.
QF1: Ghana v Nigeria - which do you pick? [ballot]
- NIGERIA: Seyi Shay 58%
- GHANA: Guru 42%
Total Voters: 52
Poll closes: 26 May 2014 @ 15:00
Loading ...This match runs till Monday. Below the cut you’ll find the songs, the team talks, and a (slightly late) farewell to the USA…
GHANA: Guru – “Karaoke”
“Don’t be fooled by this striker’s subdued attack; he’s as precise and devastating in position as any more flamboyant player. And the defensive line, as always with Ghana, is simply a monster.”
NIGERIA: Seyi Shay – “Ragga Ragga”
“It’s great to be facing our Ghanaian friends! Their Azonto formation has been lighting up the Africa Cup of Pop Nations recently, and we’re thrilled to see their style succeeding so well in international tournament. What else to meet them with than the forward play that’s taking over Nigeria’s premier pop leagues these days — the fierce, attacking, dancehall style. Seyi Shay’s a sinuous striker, not afraid to show off her Jamaican influences, not shy of a big chorus, as she dances relentlessly toward the goal.”
The Nigerian manager has advised the organisers that the first 30 seconds of this YouTube video can be skipped to get to the song.
SO FAREWELL THEN….: USA, still a sleeping giant of pop competition, who were unlucky in some ways to be drawn against the South Koreans so soon after qualification from the “Group of Death”. But there are no easy games at this level. Along the way, manager The Lex showed off the USA’s hottest young talents, but it was veteran striker Trina who was their highest scorer. Here she is with “Beam”.
What a cracking match, Brian! High scoring play from both sides and it’s going to be tough to call the result here. In my mind Nigeria have scored their goal of the tournament here (though I think Japan’s Stupig is still going to be the highlight reel producer’s centrepiece…) while Ghana just keep pounding out the quality shots – surely they can’t miss? Marvellous!
This is the big one. Nigeria beat Ghana at the same stage in the tournament four years ago and this game was never going to disappoint, but… good grief this is impossible. At the moment I’m marginally favouring Nigerian flair over Ghanaian power here, although if Ghana had played ‘Lapaz Toyota’ by the same artist it would have been a banker.
Nigeria’s workrate here is intense, haring after every ball, trying so hard not to let the Ghanaian side find its groove. The constant pressing game looks likely to pay off – this side has plenty of goals in it. Nice Sean Paul quote too.
The problem is that if Ghana DO get into this groove, they are absolutely deadly. The gaffer is right to be proud of his defence here, but there’s some real flair in attack as well, a striker who initially seems laid-back, but only because he’s reading the game acutely, trying all sorts of different angles and tricks.
Very, very, narrow Ghana pick for me, I think. Tremendous game, though.
Is she singing “you can be my real hamster” in the Nigerian chorus, or is it just me?
an extraordinarily high paced game from both sides – Nigeria’s striker looks likely to score from the off and she is well served by the midfield. However Ghana keep the ball and pass it with pinpoint precision. With several attacking players and a rock solid defence they show greater variety and an ability to get around Nigeria’s back four to seal the game by the narrowest of margins
What a game… It’s a real shame one of them has to go out at this stage, because this would have been a worthy final.
Nigeria are imperious here, and not hurt at all by borrowing a play from Sean Paul’s all-time career high.
Ghana, though…. When it’s playing, I can’t imagine ever wanting to listen to anything else, and when it finishes I just want to hear it again. Off to track down the complete works of Guru now.
Sorry to see one of these teams go. They’ve both provided some of the most vital and compelling performances so far. And here, Nigeria’s Sean Paul lift must go on the goal of the Tournament reel. It’s a netbuster of epic proportions.
Ghana’s been the team of the tournament so far, and the Guru track reveals something new with each listen. But I’m giving the edge to Nigeria here. Seyi Shay is focused, determined, self-contained, yet she’s inspired a whole forest of sounds to walk her path with her.
Ghana for me. A belter of a track – and the best pronunciation of “karaoke” I’ve encountered. Nigeria a bit … too Jamaican here?
Cheers to the champs from a squad that was always plucky underdogs by comparison. Africa! Africa!
wow, I was pretty sure we were going to be totalled by Ghana – there’s always something super charismatic to the way Guru’s voice and Ball J’s production match, and that martial drum’s a great motif. ilx afrobeats thread regular Benny Brassic has done some great mixes of Ball J productions, for anyone who’s looking to find more stuff in this vein: ball j beats vol 1, ball j beats vol 2.