International Football
23 FASCINATING & STRANGE FACTS OF NIGERIA-ALGERIA FRIENDLY MATCH
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
When Nigeria faces Algeria at the Wörthersee Stadion on Friday, it will be a re-enactment of some previous fixtures of both teams. Their last encounter was at the semi finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo last year.
In continuation of tradition, www.sportsvillagesquare.com presents analyses, which reveal that the Algeria-Nigeria encounter has great significance for eternal storage. Here are some of the insightful points of the encounter.
- If fielded, the match will be the international debut for former Germany U-20 captain, Kevin Akpoguma.
- If fielded, Ahmed Musa, the most capped active Nigeria international will make his 87th appearance.
- This is the 22nd encounter of both teams since they first clashed in a group game at the 2nd All Africa Games in Lagos in January 1973.
- When both teams met at the semi finals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, it was Nigeria’s 92nd match in the competition’s history and the seventh semi final match the Super Eagles played in the 63-year old competition.
- Algeria on the other side played their 73rd Africa Cup of Nations’ match.
- Nigeria’s national team won its first Africa Cup of Nations’ title by beating Algeria 3-0 in 1980.
- Algeria won its first Africa Cup of Nations by beating Nigeria 1-0 in 1990.
- 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’s Super Eagles’ unbeaten run of 34 matches in the World Cup qualifying series was technically broken by Algeria in November 2017 when FIFA reversed the on-field result of 1-1 to a 0-3 draw by Nigeria following Super Eagles’ fielding of Shehu Abdullahi who on account of yellow cards in preceding matches was ineligible. Otherwise, Nigeria’s unbeaten run could have been 35. The figure 34 however still remains 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 2014 World Cup winners, Germany.
- 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 respective Round of 16 matches, they would have clashed in the quarterfinals, 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.
- When both teams met in Uyo in November 2016, it was Nigeria’s milestone of 100th World Cup qualifying match and 50th home game.
- 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 during a semi final clash of the two teams at Maroc ‘88. 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.
- Both Algeria and Nigeria have green as their dominant national colours.
- 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.
- Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha scored the first of his 16 international goals for Nigeria when he converted free kick against Algeria in a 13 July 1993 World Cup qualifying match in Lagos which Nigeria won 4-1.
- Austin Okocha’s brother, 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.
- 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.
- Rabah Madjer, Algeria greatest football icon had his baptism of fire as Algeria’s coach when the team faced Nigeria in a World Cup qualifying match in 2017.
- 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 1970s.
- 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.
- Algeria once beat Nigeria silly, 5-1 in Algiers, Algeria. Nigeria also once beat Algeria silly 5-2 in Oran, Algeria.
Head-to-Head: ALGERIA vs. NIGERIA
P W D L F A
Nigeria 21 8 4 9 28 27
Algeria 21 9 4 8 27 28
- 10 January 1973 (2AAG) Nigeria 2-2 Algeria
- 28 March 1978 (3AAG) Algeria 1-0 Nigeria
- 22 March 1980 (Afcon) Nigeria 3-0 Algeria
- 10 October 1981 (WCq) Nigeria 0-2 Algeria
- 30 October 1981 (WCq) Algeria 2-1 Nigeria
- 10 March 1982 (Afcon) Algeria 2-1 Nigeria
- 11 March 1984 (Afcon) Algeria 0-0 Nigeria
- 15 January 1988 (Oq) Algeria 1-0 Nigeria
- 30 January 1988 (Oq) Nigeria 2-0 Algeria
- 23 March 1988 (Afcon) Algeria 1-1 Nigeria *(8 -9 penalty shoot-out)
- 2 March 1990 (Afcon) Algeria 5-1 Nigeria
- 16 March 1990 (Afcon) Algeria 1-0 Nigeria
- 13 July 1993 (WCq) Nigeria 4-1 Algeria
- 8 October 1993 (WCq) Algeria 1-1 Nigeria
- 21 January 2002 (Afcon) Algeria 0-1 Nigeria
- 3 July 2004 (WCq) Nigeria 1-0 Algeria
- 8 September 2005 (WCq) Algeria 2-5 Nigeria
- 30 January 2010 (Afcon) Algeria 0-1 Nigeria
- 12 November 2016 (WCq) Nigeria 3-1 Algeria
- 10 November 2017 (WCq) Algeria 3-0 Nigeria* actual result 1-1 was annulled
- 14 July 2019 (Afcon) Algeria 2-1 Nigeria
International Football
Again, it is #DestinationMorocco as FIFA takes Women’s Series 2025 to the Kingdom
By Kunle Solaja
FIFA has officially confirmed that the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025 will be hosted by Morocco, with the opening matches scheduled to kick off on Sunday, October 26.
The event marks yet another milestone for Moroccan football, further cementing the kingdom’s growing stature as a global hub for the sport.
The upcoming tournament promises historic firsts for women’s football. The Afghan Women United team—formed from Afghan players living in exile—will play their first-ever international match, while Chad and Libya will make their FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking debuts at the conclusion of the round-robin competition.
In a statement, FIFA expressed gratitude to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) for its collaboration and reiterated its commitment to advancing women’s football globally. The world football governing body also reaffirmed its support for Afghan women footballers, no
ting that the FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football, approved by the FIFA Council in May 2025, continues to guide the federation’s inclusive efforts.
“FIFA looks forward to working closely with the FMRF to host a successful and symbolic tournament that showcases the unifying power of football,” the organization said.
As part of that effort, FIFA confirmed that Afghan Women United was selected as the team’s new official name following consultations with players—a symbolic gesture reflecting unity, resilience, and identity amid global challenges.
Morocco: A Flourishing Football Destination
Morocco’s selection as host comes at a time when the North African nation’s football profile is soaring. The country is currently hosting the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and, just this week, celebrated another historic milestone as its U-20 men’s team clinched the FIFA U-20 World Cup title—a triumph widely viewed as the fruit of a long-term national sports vision.
A Victory Rooted in Royal Vision
The Lion Cubs’ success is no accident. It stems from a deliberate and structured sports policy championed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who has consistently positioned sport as a catalyst for human, social, and territorial development. Since the National Sports Conference of 2008, the King’s leadership has inspired a generation of athletes and administrators to see football as both a unifying national force and a tool for youth empowerment.
The Mohammed VI Football Academy: Cradle of Excellence
Central to Morocco’s football renaissance is the Mohammed VI Football Academy (AMF), inaugurated in 2010. The academy epitomizes the royal vision of using sport as a means of education, personal growth, and international competitiveness. Five players from the victorious U-20 squad—Yassir Zabir, Othmane Kountoune, Fouad Zahouani, Houssam Essadak, and Yassine Khalifi—are proud graduates of the academy.
Investing in Infrastructure and Inclusion
Morocco’s nationwide expansion of local playing fields, regional training centres, and modern football facilities has created a fertile ground for nurturing young talent. This democratization of access to sport has shaped a new generation of Moroccan youth—disciplined, skilled, and confident on the global stage.
The success of both the Atlas Lions at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the Atlas Lionesses, who reached the knockout stages of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, reflects the depth of this comprehensive strategy.
A Beacon of African and Arab Football
With the hosting of the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025 and the country’s string of international achievements, Morocco continues to position itself as a pioneer in African and Arab football. Its success is more than athletic—it is symbolic of a nation where sport drives progress, unity, and pride.
As the Afghan Women United, Chad, and Libya prepare to make history in Morocco this October, the Kingdom once again proves that its football journey is not only national but inspirational—anchored in vision, excellence, and the unifying power of the beautiful game.
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Brazil will round off their 2025 calendar with two friendly matches in Europe next month, taking on Senegal and Tunisia as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian FA (CBF) announced on Thursday.
The five-time world champions, managed by Carlo Ancelotti, will face Senegal on November 15 at Emirates Stadium in London and, three days later, they will meet Tunisia in Lille, France.
The CBF announced that these fixtures were designed to “provide the team with valuable experience against African opposition” ahead of next year’s tournament in North America.
After the conclusion of the South American qualifiers, the choice of opponents follows October’s encounters against Asian teams, which saw Brazil beat South Korea 5-0 but suffer a stunning first defeat to Japan.
With coach Ancelotti facing limited preparation time after arriving in May from Real Madrid, the matches form part of a broader plan to expose Brazil to a variety of playing styles in preparation for next year’s the World Cup.
Looking ahead to March 2026, the CBF has indicated that Brazil’s next set of friendlies will likely be against top-level European nations, with the U.S. as the expected venue.
Ancelotti has been steadily implementing his vision for the squad and has emphasised the importance of adapting to diverse tactical challenges, particularly against teams from other continents.
CBF sources indicated that the plan for the three remaining international breaks would be to make final observations regarding players and tactical adjustments in November, lock in the starting line-up in March and strengthen ties with Brazilian fans with a final friendly at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana before departing for the tournament.
The upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia will provide an opportunity to test Brazil’s readiness against two of Africa’s strongest sides.
Senegal boast a formidable squad featuring Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Kalidou Koulibaly. They shocked Brazil 4-2 in their last encounter, a friendly played in Lisbon two years ago.
Tunisia, meanwhile, are known for their defensive organisation and have consistently performed well in African competitions.
Back in September they were the second African team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup with two games to spare.
-Reuters
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Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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