Nigeria’s Super Eagles will be targeting a victory against the Desert Warriors of Algeria when both teams meet today at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo in a 2018 Russia World Cup qualifier.
The Super Eagles who are leading Group B with three points following their 2-1 victory over Chipolopolo of Zambia in Ndola in their first game at the qualifiers will be hoping to gain a 9th victory in all competitions over their North African opponents who were forced to a 1-1 draw by the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in their first game of the qualifiers.
There have been 17 clashes between both teams all at competitive level, with Nigeria winning eight times, drawing three and losing six.
The first clash between both countries was on 10th January 1973, during the football event of the 2nd All-Africa Games that Nigeria hosted. The match ended 2-2.
Seven years later, the Green Eagles would thrash the Algerians 3-0 to lift their first Africa Cup title.
In their last four confrontations, the Eagles have enjoyed a winning streak against the Algerians, which is more than the three consecutive wins Algeria had over Nigeria between October 1981 and March 1982.
In the qualifying race for Espana ’82, Algeria beat Nigeria 2-0 in Lagos and 2-1 in Constantine, and the Fennecs as they were then called came from behind to edge the Eagles 2-1 at the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations in Libya. The last time the two teams met was at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Angola in which Nigeria piped the Foxes 1-0. A closer look at both teams indicates that apart from the fact they are not new to each other; both teams parade some of the best players in the continent and are also rated among the top teams in Africa which makes today’s cracker interesting.
While Nigeria will be aiming to consolidate on their position following their first win in the campaign, the Algerians who sacked Serbian Coach Milovan Rajevic following their draw with Cameroon at home in the opening round of the qualifiers last month will be aiming for an upset against Nigeria knowing that a loss or draw will not do them any good in their quest to be in Russia.
In order to ensure total victories for their teams, handlers of both teams have assembled a crack team made up of mainly European based professionals to prosecute today’s match.
Nigeria’s technical adviser, Gernot Rohr who had earlier closed the door to home based players and their foreign counterparts who are not playing regularly for their clubs has invited players like; captain Mikel John Obi, assistant captain Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi, Wilfred Ndidi , Oghenekaro Etebo ,John Ogu, William Paul Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo , Uche Henry Agbo, Tyrone Ebuehi , Abdullahi Shehu, Musa Muhammed , Elderson Echiejile, Kingsley Madu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon , Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo, Brown Ideye, Alex Iwobi and goal keepers; Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Alampasu.
On the other hand, his Algerian counterpart, Belgian Georges Leekens also called up Arsenal’s 18-year-old midfielder Ismael Bennacer, Qatar-based attacker Baghdad Bounedjah as well as Yacine Benzia, France-born Bordeaux’s rising star Adam Ounas, In-form Leicester City forward Islam Slimani who switched his international allegiance to Algeria recently amongst others to prosecute the all important match.
Although Nigeria’s first choice goal keeper, Carl Ikeme will be missing in action as a result of injury but the Super Eagles technical crew has assured Nigerians that his replacement is capable of keeping the Algerians in check in today’s cracker.
Comments