Ghana inflicted another setback on Nigeria with a 2-0 victory over their fierce rivals in an African Nations Championship (CHAN) second round first leg on Sunday.
Nigeria previously suffered a shocking loss to Ghana last March, in a play-off to decide which country qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Ghana forced a 1-1 draw in Nigeria after having a 0-0 stalemate at home, to win on away goals and book a fourth World Cup appearance.
In the Nations Championship, Daniel Barnieh converted a penalty to maintain a goal-a-game CHAN record, scoring in both legs of a 4-0 overall first round victory.
Seidu Suraj, added a potentially crucial second goal four minutes from time in Cape Coast.
The return match is scheduled for Abuja next weekend with Nigeria needing to win the second leg by at least two goals to have a chance of reaching the 18-nation finals in Algeria.
Ghana have had their share of the African nations Championship, finishing runners-up in two of the first three editions but failing to qualify for the last three tournaments.
Nigeria have been inconsistent as well, qualifying only three times in six attempts and crashing 4-0 to hosts Morocco in the 2018 final.