Matches between the two West African neighbours have always been a fierce contest. Though Nigeria have the upper hand in the head-to-head record with nine wins, three defeats and five draws in their seventeen encounters, it is the Indomitable Lions who have delivered when it mattered most.
The last time both sides met was at the quarter final of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations where the Super Eagles emerged 2-1 winners- some sort of revenge for the finals lost at home four years earlier against arguably the best African side of the decade.
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| Okocha scored one of the most memorable goals of the Afcon against Cameroon |
Before the half hour mark, the Super Eagles were two nil down thanks to early strikes from Samuel Eto'o and Patrick Mboma at the Surulere stadium where Nigeria had never lost a competitive game until then.
It seemed an impossible task for the Super Eagles until Chukwu Ndukwu pulled one goal back on the brink of half time to give the home side a lifeline.
Then came the moment early in the second half when Jay Jay Okocha scored one of the best goals the competition has ever seen with a long range drive to restore parity.
If the goal itself was breath-taking, the celebration from Okocha was one for the front pages, as the famous Number 10 gestured to imply '' it is not in Surulere that they are going to lose this final''.
However, Cameroon did enough to force the game to penalties where Rigobert Song was the difference as the Lions emerged 4-3.
Sunday's game is nowhere near the stakes of the finals in 2000 but rekindles a rivalry that has always left football fans across the continent at the edge of their seats.
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