Ghana’s Black Stars and Nigeria’s Super Eagles are set to participate in a prestigious four-nation tournament in England during the June 2025 international break.
The tournament, which will also feature hosts England and Jamaica, offers valuable match experience for the African sides ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers later in the year.
The Black Stars currently sit at the top of Group I in the African World Cup qualifying campaign, having accumulated 15 points from five victories against Mali, Chad, Central African Republic, and Madagascar. Ghana leads second-placed Comoros by five points, with Comoros being the only team to have defeated Ghana in the qualifiers thus far. A first-place finish in the group would secure Ghana automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In contrast, Nigeria’s Super Eagles face a more challenging qualifying campaign. The Nigerian team currently sits fourth in their group with seven points from six games, trailing group leaders South Africa by six points. Their World Cup qualification hopes hang in the balance, making their upcoming fixtures crucial.
The Super Eagles’ upcoming clash with Bafana Bafana carries particular significance following their recent history. Nigeria defeated South Africa in the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), advancing via penalties after a tense battle.
June will be a busy month for Nigerian football, as alongside the four-nation tournament in England, the Super Eagles will also face Russia in an international friendly. These matches will serve as vital preparation before they return to their challenging World Cup qualification campaign.
The four-nation tournament provides both African teams with opportunities to test themselves against diverse playing styles. For Ghana, it’s a chance to maintain momentum from their strong qualification campaign, while Nigeria will be looking to build confidence and cohesion before returning to their must-win World Cup qualifiers.
The tournament comes at a time when both nations are focused on building squads capable of making significant impacts on the international stage, with Ghana looking more likely to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup based on current standings.
