Nigerian comedian and actor Bright Okpocha, popularly known as Basketmouth, has sparked reactions online after praising the skills of Ghanaian barbers while taking a playful swipe at their Nigerian counterparts.

The award-winning entertainer made the comment after receiving a haircut during his recent visit to Ghana. Impressed by the barber’s work, Basketmouth shared his experience on his Instagram Story, where he compared the quality of Ghanaian barbers to those in Nigeria.

Referencing the long-standing friendly rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria, which has often centred on issues such as jollof rice, the comedian wrote:

“Our jollof rice may be better than theirs… but Ghanaian barbers make our barbers look like bricklayers.”

He went on to express his satisfaction with the haircut, adding:

“This barber got me looking like a babe.”

The comment quickly gained traction on social media, with users from both countries sharing their views on the comedian’s remarks.

While many Ghanaians embraced the compliment as a recognition of the country’s growing grooming and fashion industry, some Nigerians disagreed with the comparison, arguing that Nigerian barbers also possess exceptional skills.

Others, however, interpreted the statement as part of Basketmouth’s usual comedic style, viewing it as harmless banter aimed at celebrating a memorable experience rather than a serious criticism.

The remarks have reignited the familiar Ghana-Nigeria cultural rivalry, with social media users once again debating areas of excellence between the two countries, including food, music, fashion, sports and entertainment.