Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face Algeria’s Desert Foxes in an international friendly today at the Olympic Stadium in Oran.
After missing out on tickets to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the two teams are gearing up for qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations billed to take place in Cote d’Ivoire next year.
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Prior to today’s match, Algeria defeated Guinea 1-0 in Oran on Friday, while Nigeria held the home team of Algeria to a 2-2 tie in Constantine the same day.
That win is the Foxes’ fourth on the trot, and they will be full of confidence in front of a home crowd against a Nigerian side looking for their third win under Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro.
There have been 21 meetings between Nigeria and Algeria, with either side winning nine apiece aside three draws.
The last draw, though, was in 1993 – nearly thirty years ago – and Nigeria have won six of the nine games since.
Algeria, however, have recent momentum on their side, claiming victories at the semifinal of the 2019 Afcon in Egypt and in a 2020 friendly in Austria.
Meanwhile, twenty-two players made the trip from Constantine to Oran for the game after deputy captain, William Troost-Ekong picked up a knock in the 2-2 draw in a test game by the Algeria home-based team last Friday.
It will be recalled that injuries to Sadiq Umar, Victor Osimhen, Ahmed Musa, Henry Onyekuru, Samuel Chukwueze and Wilfred Ndidi had ruled them out of the tie.
Today’s game will kick off at 8pm Nigeria time.
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