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VIDEO & PHOTOS: STRANGE & FASCINATING FACTS OF ALGERIA – NIGERIA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING MATCH
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
When Nigeria faces Algeria in Constantine on Friday, it will be 13 years four months and 21 days since the Super Eagles last lost a World Cup qualifying match. This translates to 4,891 days of an unbeaten streak across 34 matches.
The dead rubber match will be the 20th encounter of both teams since their first clash at the second All Africa Games in Lagos in 1973. That maiden encounter ended 2-2 draw, Algeria being the only team Nigeria did not beat on the road to win its first continental honour – the gold medal of the football event of the All Africa Games.
In significance, Friday’s match may not have much value as Nigeria’s Super Eagles are already qualified for the Russia 2018 World Cup, while Algeria have since crashed out two match days before now.
It is therefore not a star attraction in the mould of the Cote d’Ivoire versus Morocco clash which is a winner-takes-all episode.
But Sports Village Square analysis will reveal that the Algeria-Nigeria encounter has great significance for eternal storage. Here are some of the insightful points of the encounter.
- Nigeria was the last team Algeria faced to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 1981. Algeria beat Nigeria 0-2 in Lagos on October 10, 1981 and 2-1 in Constantine on October 30, 1981 to qualify for 1982 World Cup.
- Algeria was the last team Nigeria faced to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 1993. Needing just a draw, the Super Eagles played 1-1 draw with Algeria on October 8, 1993 to become the first Anglophone country in Africa to qualify for the World Cup.
- Nigeria will be attempting to extend the Super Eagles’ unbeaten run to 35 matches in the World Cup qualifying series. This is the longest in Africa. Nigeria last lost a World Cup qualifying match in Luanda on June 20, 2004 when Angola had a 1-0 win in the race to Germany 2006. Nigeria’s record is the second longest unbeaten run globally after that of Spain’s 59. Nigeria’s 34 unbeaten run is even four ahead that of World Cup holders, Germany. Next to that are those of Cote d’Ivoire and Switzerland both at 25 matches each.
- Both Algeria and Nigeria were the last two African teams standing at the Brazil 2014 World Cup.
- Both teams lost to European sides on the same day at the Brazil 2014 Round of 16 encounters. Nigeria lost 0-2 to France; Algeria lost 1-2 to Germany. If the two African teams had won their Round of 16 matches, they would have clashed in the quarter finals, thus an African team could had gotten to the semi finals. It would have also been the first time two African teams clashed at the World Cup.
- Former Nigeria’s strongman of defence, Bright Omokaro, got his nickname of “Ten-Ten” when he hacked down an Algerian player who could neither return to the field nor be substituted and that evened the line-up after Nigeria’s Ademola Adeshina had been red-carded. Maverick Nigerian radio commentator, the late Ernest Okonkwo screamed: “Omokaro has made it ten-ten.” From then, ‘Ten-Ten’ became the nickname of the hard tackling defender.
- It is another clash of Rabah Madjer and Alloy Agu, the two captains of the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations final match which Algeria won 1-0. Rabah Madjer who captained the Algerian team is now the head coach. Agu who also captained Nigeria in the match is in the technical crew of the Super Eagles as the goalkeeper trainer.
- Since the third round of the World Cup qualifying series began in Africa last year October, Algeria, the initial highest ranked African team and hot favourites to top the Group 2 which was aptly tagged “Group of Death”, has not won any match in the series, losing all, and drawing just the opener against Cameroon. Will Nigeria achieve a double over Algeria as Zambia did?
- Both Algeria and Nigeria have green as their dominant national colours.
ALGERIA FLAG NIGERIA FLAG
- Their names have almost the same alphabets, and sounding almost the same. The differences in the names of Algeria and Nigeria are just the first two alphabets of their respective names.
- The Constantine encounter will be the 20th of both countries overall, but the eighth in World Cup qualifying series.
Head-to-Head: ALGERIA vs. NIGERIA
P W D L F A
Nigeria 19 8 4 7 27 22
Algeria 19 7 4 8 22 27
- 10 January 1973 (2AAG) Nigeria 2-2 Algeria
- 28 March 1978 (3AAG) Algeria 1-0 Nigeria
- 22 March 1980 (CAN) Nigeria 3-0 Algeria
- 10 October 1981 (WCq) Nigeria 0-2 Algeria
- 30 October 1981 (WCq) Algeria 2-1 Nigeria
- 10 March 1982 (CAN) Algeria 2-1 Nigeria
- 11 March 1984 (CAN) Algeria 0-0 Nigeria
- 15 January 1988 (Oq) Algeria 1-0 Nigeria
- 30 January 1988 (Oq) Nigeria 2-0 Algeria
- 23 March 1988 (CAN) Algeria 1-1 Nigeria *(8 -9 penalty shoot-out)
- 2 March 1990 (CAN) Algeria 5-1 Nigeria
- 16 March 1990 (CAN) Algeria 1-0 Nigeria
- 13 July 1993 (WCq) Nigeria 4-1 Algeria
- 8 October 1993 (WCq) Algeria 1-1 Nigeria
- 21 January 2002 (CAN) Algeria 0-1 Nigeria
- 3 July 2004 (WCq) Nigeria 1-0 Algeria
- 8 September 2005 (WCq) Algeria 2-5 Nigeria
- 30 January 2010 (CAN) Algeria 0-1 Nigeria
- 12 November 2016 (WCq) Nigeria 3-1 Algeria
- When both teams met in Uyo last year’s November, it was Nigeria’s milestone of 100th World Cup qualifying match and 50th home game.
- The November 12, 2016 match in Uyo was Nigeria’s 100th World Cup qualifying match.
- When they meet again on November 10 in Constantine, it will be Algeria’s 95th World Cup qualifying match and Nigeria’s 104th, the second highest in Africa after Morocco’s 111st.
- Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha scored 16 goals for Nigeria in his entire career. The first of the goals was a converted free kick against Algeria in a July 13, 1993 World Cup match in Lagos which Nigeria won 4-1.
- Austin Jay Jay Okocha’s brother, Emma Okocha made his international debut in a match with Algeria on March 2, 1990.
- The Okocha Brothers: Emma ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha and Austin ‘Jay Jay ‘ Okocha scored land mark goals against Algeria.
- Emma Okocha’s only goal for Nigeria was scored against Algeria in the opening match of the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations in Algiers. Nigeria lost 5-1.
- Algeria was the team Nigeria beat to win its first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980. The then Green Eagles won 3-0 on March 22, 1980.
- Nigeria’s Skipper Christian Chukwu lifts the Africa Cup of Nations trophy after a 3-0 defeat of Algeria on March 22, 1980 in Lagos.
- Nigeria was the country Algeria beat in 1990 to win its only Africa Cup of Nations title till date. Algeria beat Nigeria 1-0 in the final match played in Algiers on Match 16, 1990.
- Nigerian football legend, Segun Odegbami played his last international match when Nigeria faced Algeria in Constantine on October 30, 1981.Nigeria lost the match 2-1.
- Segun Odegbami unfamiliarly put on shirt number 9 in his very last international match, a World Cup qualifying match with Algeria on October 30, 1981.
- Rabah Madjer, Algeria greatest football icon will have his baptism of fire as Algeria’s coach when the team faces Nigeria on Friday.
- Rabah Madjer, captain of Algeria in confrontation with Nigeria’s Isaac Semitoje during the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations final match. Madjer will be leading Algeria to face Nigeria, this time as a coach.
- Former Nigeria’s captain, Christian Chukwu’s last match for Nigeria was against Algeria on October 10, 1981 in a World Cup qualifying duel which Nigeria shockingly lost 0-2 at home. It was also the case for Thompson Usiyen, one of Nigeria’s potent strikers in the seventies.
- Algeria was a victim of an alleged World Cup match fixing episode in Gijon Spain in a West Germany versus Austria match. Two years later, Algeria and Nigeria were alleged to have played an “accord match” in a Group B Africa Cup of Nations match in Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire. The referee of the match, Karim Camara of Guinea, had to issue a yellow card to the captains of both sides, Stephen Keshi for Nigeria and Ali Feghani for Algeria.
- Dateline: Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire March 11, 1984 – Guinean referee, Karim Camara issues a yellow card to skippers Stephen Keshi of Nigeria and Ali Feghani of Algeria. The gesture is actually a general caution to both teams for ‘unsporting’ behaviour.
- Algeria once beat Nigeria silly, 5-1 in Algiers, Algeria. Nigeria also once beat Algeria silly 5-2 in Oran, Algeria.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW YORK
Africa emerged as the most successful confederation in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with an unprecedented 90 percent of its representatives advancing to the Round of 32.
Nine of the 10 African teams that started the tournament secured places in the knockout phase, giving the Confederation of African Football (CAF) the highest qualification rate among all six continental confederations.
The African nations progressing to the Round of 32 are South Africa, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, Senegal, Egypt, Ghana, DR Congo and Algeria.
Only one African team failed to survive the group stage, underscoring the continent’s growing competitiveness on football’s biggest stage.
CAF’s 90 per cent success rate placed it ahead of South America’s CONMEBOL, which saw 83.33 per cent of its teams advance, and Europe’s UEFA, whose members recorded an 81.25 per cent qualification rate.
The figures represent a significant shift in the global football landscape, where European and South American nations have traditionally dominated World Cup competitions.
The expanded 48-team format appears to have provided African countries with greater opportunities to showcase their progress, and they responded with a series of impressive performances throughout the group stage.
Cape Verde emerged as one of the tournament’s surprise packages by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time, while South Africa, DR Congo and Algeria also celebrated historic advances.
Senegal made history by becoming the first African nation to score five goals in a World Cup match, while Morocco continued the momentum generated by their remarkable semi-final run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
In contrast, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) endured a difficult campaign, with only 22.22 per cent of its teams progressing. The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) recorded a 50 per cent qualification rate despite having the advantage of three host nations.
Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) failed to place any team in the Round of 32.
World Cup Round of 32 Qualification Rates by Confederation
- CAF (Africa): 90%
- CONMEBOL (South America): 83.33%
- UEFA (Europe): 81.25%
- CONCACAF (North and Central America/Caribbean): 50%
- AFC (Asia): 22.22%
- OFC (Oceania): 0%
The statistics show Africa’s growing influence in world football and raise hopes that the continent could produce its strongest collective performance ever in the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup.
With nine teams still in contention, Africa enters the Round of 32 with more representatives than any other confederation and a genuine opportunity to challenge for the latter stages of the tournament.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW YORK.
Ecuador will look to continue their strong record against Concacaf opposition when they face Curaçao in a Group E encounter at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The South Americans enter the match having won their last two World Cup meetings with teams from the Concacaf region and will be eager to maintain that trend as they chase a place in the knockout rounds.
For Curaçao, however, the fixture represents an opportunity to create history.
The Caribbean nation is one of the tournament’s debutants and is still searching for its first World Cup victory. After suffering a heavy defeat to Germany in their opening match, Curaçao will be desperate to demonstrate the resilience and determination that earned them a place at the expanded 48-team tournament.
A victory would make them the first of the World Cup 2026 newcomers to register a win and would provide a significant boost to their qualification hopes.
Ecuador are expected to rely on their experience at this level, but they know underestimating Curaçao could prove costly. The underdogs have already shown flashes of attacking quality despite their difficult introduction against Germany.
As the group stage begins to take shape, both teams understand the importance of securing points. Ecuador are chasing progression, while Curaçao are chasing history.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW YORK.
As Morocco edge closer to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026, captain Achraf Hakimi finds himself at the centre of two parallel narratives; one being football excellence and the other by legal proceedings that continue to cast a shadow over his career.
On the pitch, the 27-year-old has never appeared more influential.
Morocco’s 1-0 victory over Scotland not only moved the Atlas Lions within touching distance of the Round of 32, it also elevated Hakimi into the record books as the African player with the most FIFA World Cup appearances.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender made his 12th World Cup appearance, surpassing the previous mark jointly held by Cameroonian legend François Omam-Biyik and Ghana’s all-time leading scorer Asamoah Gyan.
It is a remarkable achievement for a player who made his World Cup debut as a teenager in Russia in 2018 and has since become one of the most recognisable faces of African football.
For Hakimi, the record is another milestone in a career already decorated with major club honours and individual accolades, including the African Footballer of the Year award. It also reinforces his status as one of the driving forces behind Morocco’s rise as a global football power.
His influence was most vividly illustrated at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Morocco became the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. Hakimi’s composure, leadership and attacking flair helped transform the Atlas Lions into one of the competition’s most compelling stories.
Four years later, he remains the heartbeat of a Moroccan side determined to prove that their success in Qatar was no one-off achievement.
The signs have been encouraging. Morocco opened their campaign with an impressive 1-1 draw against five-time champions Brazil before defeating Scotland to move within a point of qualification. A draw against Haiti in their final group match would be enough to secure passage to the knockout rounds.
Yet while Hakimi’s football achievements continue to accumulate, events away from the game have ensured that public attention remains divided.
The defender is facing the prospect of a criminal trial in France following allegations of rape first reported in 2023. Hakimi has consistently denied wrongdoing and has sought to challenge the legal process through the courts.
French media reported this week that an appeals court rejected a challenge to his referral to criminal court, clearing the way for a future trial.
Responding publicly, Hakimi reiterated his innocence and welcomed the opportunity to present his version of events.
“Today, a story that isn’t mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth,” he wrote on social media platform X.
“I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I’m looking forward to it. Finally, I’ll be able to speak out.”
The legal proceedings remain ongoing, and no trial date has been announced.
For now, Morocco’s captain appears determined to keep his focus on football.
That ability to compartmentalise challenges has become a defining characteristic of elite athletes, particularly those operating under intense global scrutiny. With millions watching every move, Hakimi has continued to perform at the highest level for both club and country.
His record-breaking appearance against Scotland demonstrated once again why he remains indispensable to Morocco’s ambitions. Whether surging down the flank, organising teammates or inspiring supporters, Hakimi has become the symbol of a generation that has redefined expectations for African football.
As the World Cup enters its decisive phase, Morocco’s hopes of another deep run rest heavily on the shoulders of their captain.
The legal questions surrounding Hakimi will ultimately be settled in court. On the field, however, his contribution to Moroccan football is already firmly established.
And as the Atlas Lions pursue another place in World Cup history, their captain continues to add chapters to a legacy that has made him one of Africa’s most accomplished footballers.
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Chijioke oleru Emma
November 6, 2017 at 9:31 am
Kunle, my brother, I am highly informed by this your research and great sport news. God bless you and more ink to your pen and more knowledge to your brain. Thank you so much.