AFCON

UPDATED WITH VIDEO: SUPER EAGLES BEGIN 52-YEAR UNBEATEN RUN WITH KENYA

Published

4 years ago

May 8, 2020

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

It may well known that Kenya national football team has in 52 years, never beaten Nigeria in any contest and in diverse venues ranging from Nairobi, Rabat, Lagos and Calabar.

In all, there have been 16 encounters. It was on this date; 8 May 1968 that the unbeaten streak Nigeria has over Kenya began.

On their way back home after picking the 1968 Olympic Games’ ticket in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Green Eagles of Nigeria stopped over in Nairobi and beat their hosts, 2-1 in a friendly match. Peter Anieke scored the two goals for Nigeria.

Ever since, the best result that Kenya ever obtained in encounters with Nigeria national team is a 1-1 draw. There were three instances of this. First was in Nairobi on 7 February 1976 as the Nigerian team stopped over in Nairobi for a high altitude acclimatization on their way to Ethiopia for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Next was a 12 January World Cup qualifier, which marked the end of Amodu Shuaibu’s first stint as Super Eagles’ coach. The last was in Calabar during a World Cup qualifying duel when Kenya took a surprise first half lead.

Nigeria had to wait till almost the end of added time before Nnamdi Oduamadi restored parity.

KENYA – NIGERIA: HEAD-TO-HEAD

P W D L F A

Nigeria 16 13 3 0 35 9

Kenya 16 0 3 13 9 35

· 8 May 1968 (F) Kenya 1-2 Nigeria

· 7 Feb. 1976 (F) Kenya 1-1 Nigeria

· 3 Aug. 1981 (F) Kenya 1-3 Nigeria

· 7 Apr. 1985 (WCq) Kenya 0-3 Nigeria

· 20 April 1985 (WCq) Nigeria 3-1 Kenya

· 14 Mar. 1988 (ACN) Kenya 0-3 Nigeria

· 14 Jan. 1992 (ACN) Kenya 1-2 Nigeria

· 12 Jan. 1997 (WCq) Kenya 1-1 Nigeria

· 7 June 1997 (WCq) Nigeria 3-0 Kenya

· 4 May 2002 (F) Nigeria 3-0 Kenya

· 27 May 2007 (F) Kenya 0-1 Nigeria

· 7 June 2009 (WCq) Nigeria 3-0 Kenya

· 14 Nov. 2009 (WCq) Kenya 2-3 Nigeria

· 29 Mar. 2011 (F) Nigeria 3-0 Kenya

· 23 Mar. 2013 (WCq) Nigeria 1-1 Kenya

· 5 June 2013 (WCq) Kenya 0-1 Nigeria

AFCON

Eguavoen to reach a milestone with Nigeria -Nigeria clash

Published

5 seconds ago

October 11, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match involving Nigeria and Libya is a major milestone for Nigeria’s head coach. It will be his 25^th match as Nigeria’s manager.

Co-incidentally, he earned his first appearance as head coach with a duel against Libya in 2005 when he took over from his former boss, Christian Chukwu.

The 17 August 2005 was a friendly match played as Nigeria prepared for a ‘must-win’ away duel with Algeria in the qualifying series for the 2006 World Cup.

Nigeria won the friendly match 1-0 through a 19th-minute goal by Obafemi Martins. Eguavoen will be hoping for another win as Nigeria eyes an early berth at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

In the proceeding 24 matches, Nigeria under Eguavoen won 14, drew four and lost six.

AFCON

Algeria comfortably cruise past Togo to extend Group E lead

Published

16 mins ago

October 11, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The Dessert Foxes extended their Group E lead with a commanding 5-1 victory over Togo on Thursday evening in a Group E clash of Match Day 03 of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifiers

The resounding victory sees the former African champions extend their lead to an impressive 7 points ahead of Togo who are second on two points from three matches.

It was a one-sided affair in favour of the hosts who comfortably dominated the match, signalling their strong intentions of reclaiming their lost title, as they marked three straight wins in their quest to secure a ticket to the 2025 edition in Morocco.

Despite taking the early lead through Thibault Klidje in the 11th minute, it was the hosts who eventually emerged victorious thanks to their clinical finishing in front of goal.

A brace by Said Benrahma alongside goals by Houssem Aouer, Amine Gouiri and a last-minute strike by Mohamed Amoura saw the north African giants secure the victory in front of their highly vocal fans.

Group E action continues on Friday afternoon with an exciting clash between Equatorial Guinea and Liberia at 13h00 GMT.

AFCON

Points of Interest as Nigeria Hosts Libya in AFCON Qualifier

Published

44 mins ago

October 11, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

Nigeria Super Eagles hope to consolidate their lead in Group D of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series which enters matchday 3.

Sports Village Square brings you some points of interest in the encounter that will take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

AUGUSTINE EGUAVOEN

Nigeria’s head coach, Augustine Eguavoen, debuted as senior national team manager in a Super Eagles match with Libya. That was a friendly match played on 17 August 2005. Nigeria won 1-0 in Tripoli.

MILESTONE

The match in Uyo will be Eguavoen’s 25^{^th} match as Nigeria’s head coach in the four periods he has had to manage the team. His first tenure ran from 22 June 2005 to 6 February 2007. His second tenure was 22 July to 4 November 2010. He was called up again for the third time and was in charge of Nigeria’s matches from 11 January 2022 to 29 March 2022. His current tenure began with the Nigeria versus Benin Republic match on 7 September 2024.

MIKEL OBI

Nigeria’s former captain, Mikel Obi made his international debut in a friendly match with Libya. That was when Eguavoen handed him his first Super Eagles shirt in the 63^{^rd} minute as a substitute for Nwankwo Kanu. Mikel had previously played under Eguavoen at the U-17 World Cup in Finland in 2003.

TARIBO WEST

Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West played his last international match when he was featured in a friendly duel with Libya in 2005. When he was substituted in the 67^{^th} minute of the match by Obinna Nwanneri, he took his final exit from the Super Eagles.