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.
Jerrymusa.com reports that the NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport, organised both matches.
The match against Ghana’s Black Stars, scheduled for Friday, March 22, is expected to bring back fond memories of the 73-year rivalry between the two West African powerhouses, which began in October 1951 when Nigeria defeated the Gold Coast 5-0 in a Jalco Cup match held in Lagos.
The teams’ most recent meeting took place in March 2022 during a two-leg play-off for a spot in the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar; the Black Stars prevailed 1-1 overall thanks to the away-goal rule.
The final friendly encounter between Nigeria and Mali, both sides known as “Eagles,” took place in Rouen, France, during the summer of 2016.
The game ended with no points. Three years previously, in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals in Durban, the Malian Eagles had fallen 1-4 to the eventual winners, the Super Eagles.
The match between Nigeria and Mali will take place at the Grand Stade de Marrakech starting at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26, while the match between Nigeria and Ghana will restart at 4 p.m. Morocco time on March 22.
The majority of Nigeria’s team from their second-place result at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire has been kept; however, they have called up defender Jamilu Collins from England, striker Cyriel Dessers from Glasgow Rangers, and defender Tyronne Ebuehi from Empoli FC in Italy.
Wilfred Ndidi, a midfield enforcer, was not present at the continental house party in Cote d’Ivoire, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, based in Turkey, and Nathan Tella, of Bayer Leverkusen, of Germany, have new chances to push claims to permanent shirts.
Gabriel Osho, a defender from England, and Benjamin Tianimu, a defender from Tanzania, are joining the group for the first time.
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: Gabriel Osho (Luton FC, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff City, Wales); Benjamin Tianimu (Ihefu SC, Tanzania)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards: Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)