Afcon silver medalist Nigeria will take on Ghana’s Black Stars and Les Aigles of Mali in two top-grade friendly matches in the Moroccan city of Marrakech later this month.
This was disclosed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Communications Department.
The clash with Ghana’s Black Stars, which comes up on Friday, 22nd March, is bound to resurrect vintage memories of a 73-year rivalry involving the West African giants, dating back to October 1951 when Nigeria bounced then Gold Coast 5-0 in a Jalco Cup encounter in Lagos.
Most recently, the two teams clashed in March 2022 in a two-legged play-off for a place at that year’s FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar, with the Black Stars edging the fixture on the away-goal rule After a goalless draw in Kumasi, the Black Stars held the Eagles to a 1-1 draw in Abuja to quantify for the World Cup.
Nigeria and Mali, both teams incidentally nicknamed ‘Eagles’, last clashed in a friendly match in Rouen, France in the summer of 2016. The encounter ended scoreless.
The Eagles were to face Argentina in a friendly also in March game in the United States but it was cancelled due to logistics.
The game was also billed to hold in China but was canceled by the organizer after Lionel Messi failed to feature in a game between Inter Miami and an Hong Kong-selected 11.
While Nigeria and Ghana will resume their rivalry at the Grand Stade de Marrakech as from 4pm Morocco time on 22nd March, the encounter between Nigeria and Mali will commence at the same venue as from 9pm on Tuesday, 26th March.
Nigeria have retained the bulk of the squad that finished as runners-up at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, but have recalled England-based defender Jamilu Collins, as well as Empoli FC of Italy’s Tyronne Ebuehi and Glasgow Rangers’ forward Cyriel Dessers.
Midfield enforcer Wilfred Ndidi, who missed the continental houseparty in Cote d’Ivoire returns from injury, while Bayer Leverkusen of Germany’s Nathan Tella and Turkey-based Fisayo Dele-Bashiru have fresh opportunities to stake claims to permanent shirts.
England-based defender Gabriel Osho and Tanzania-based Benjamin Tianimu are teaming up with the group for the first time.
Notable names on the list are Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho, Ojo Olorunleke, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kenneth Omeruo and Chidozie Awaziem.
Others are Sadiq Umar, Raphael Onyedika, Alhassan Yusuf, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Nathan Tella and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
Joe Aribo and Samuel Chukwueze were not invited for the friendly games while William Troost-Ekong and Ola Aina are injured.
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