The stakes is so high that a loose by any team could jeopardize its chances of qualifying to the next stage of the competition. Apart from qualifying to the next stage of the Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana has a golden reputation to defend and must fight to win; specifically to show their battle readiness for the world Cup in June.

These two giants (Ghana and Nigeria) of continental soccer are passionate about the sport and millions of their fans around the world follow their every move.

In fact, rivalry between the two West African nations is so strong that there are concerns about safety at the match, despite official assurances that maximum security will be ensured before, during and after the match.

Security aside, the Ghanaians have a considerable psychological advantage. The Ghanaians qualified to the world cup and that pundits say will be motivating them as they go into their first match of the Competition which paired them in a group that has Senegal known as the Lions of Tarenga and Zimbabwe.

The pressure is on, however anything short of a victory would put paid to Ghana's fifth (5) African Cup trophy ambitions.

Out of 44 games the Black Stars have played against Nigeria, the Black Stars have won nineteen (19), lost eleven (11) and drawn in the rest. But if the Ghanaians have long felt jinxed against the Nigerians, they are confident they will break the jinx this time.

The Nigerian Football Association has spared no effort to bring home the country's best foreign-based soccer talent, including Inter Milan's dreaded striker, Obefemi Martins.

There is more doubt over Ghana's internationals. The Ghanaians jetted into Egypt last Wednesday, without Stephen Appiah, but the Stars captain joined the team later. Information from the Stars camp indicates that all the players are now fit for today's encounter. But it seems most of the Ghanaian players, especially Prince Tagoe and Louis Agyeman; who are the attackers, are inexperienced when it comes to such competitions.

Ratomir Djukovic remarks that his team will struggle in the competition because of the absence of Africa's most expensive player, Michael Essien and Sule Muntari is seem by many as a "psychological game plan". After all the Ghanaians have equally good players in Stephen Appiah, Mathew Amoah, who to many is one of the most productive players in the team and Laryea Kingston. The coach can also rely on striker Baba Armando and on the experience of Bayern Munich's ace defender, Sammuel Osei Kuffour.

But Djukovic knows the skilful and tough Nigerians will not be a pushover and his players have all been promised generous bonuses if they win today, as an extra incentive.

A message from the President of Ghana, President Kufuor says: "I am confident that you would rise to the event putting behind you the recent reverses and be inspired by our remarkable history in this competition to bring honour to all of us". It is the hope of Ghanaians that this message really motivates the Black Stars for victory.

When the referee blows his whistle for the commencement of the game at exactly 3:00 local time, Ghanaians and Nigerians will be sitting on tented hooks for the whole durations of the game.

Even before the two teams meet, connoisseurs of the game tip this encounter to be "the game of the tournament". Both teams are expected to sell a great game. but the Hawks never got off the ground as they wrangled with the federation over money.

The players are seeking a bonus of around US$40,000 per person and they say they will not get on the plane until this demand has been met.

"They were asking for the money for qualifying for the African Cup of Nations - as some kind of morale booster," Togo coach Stephen Keshi told BBC Sport. "I hope the federation and the government can bail me out. I know they are really trying their best to make the boys happy.

"This is out of my hand - they just have to sort it out themselves." Although the coach tried to play down the row as 'no big deal', he did admit it had affected his team's warm-up for Egypt 2006.

"The bonus crisis has affected the focus of my players for the past two days," he explained.

"I think the authorities can handle the situation and let the players fly out for Egypt at least by Wednesday evening."

A special 9-member commission has been created by the government to deal with the negotiations.

One member of the Togolese squad told BBC Sport that although the commission had offered around US$20,000, this had been rejected by the players. The Togo delegation can ill afford a further delay to their departure for Cairo, because they open their Group B campaign against DR Congo in the Egyptian capital on Saturday.

The Hawks, who attended a training session in Lome on Tuesday despite the problems, will also face Cameroon and Angola in Group B.