International Football
Strengths and weaknesses of Nigeria’s possible World Cup playoff opponents
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
By being among the top five African countries in the last monthly ranking conducted by Fifa, the Super Eagles have avoided four of the toughest possible opponents in the play off for the Qatar 2022 holding in March next year.
The tough teams Nigeria have avoided are Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria.
But that is not to say that the other five teams in the playoff are easy takes. The Super Eagles will face one of the following: Egypt, Ghana, Cameroon, Mali and DR Congo.
Like Sports Village Square reliably gathered from Reuters, the date for the draw for the playoff has not been decided.
It is envisaged to hold in January, possibly after protests by two last day eliminated sides, South Africa and Benin Republic may have been cleared.
All the same, none of the five potential home-and-away opponents of Nigeria is an easy take. They are all tricky sides. Sports Village Square analyse each of them.
Egypt
The Pharaohs of Egypt belong to the class of super powers in the continent. Their record speaks clear.
Currently ranked number 44 in the world and sixth in the continent, they are the most successful African sides in the African Cup of Nations, having won a record seven times.
Paradoxically, their records in the World Cup belie their strength in the continent. Despite being the first African country to feature in the World Cup, they have only featured three times in 21 editions.
They seem to be afflicted when it comes to the World Cup. They have never made a back-to-back appearance at the World Cup.They hold the record for the longest gap between two appearances and the oldest player to have ever played at the World Cup.
After their first appearance in 1934, they have to wait for 56 years before another appearance at Italia ’90.
From Italia ’90, it took another 28 years before they qualified for Russia 2018. Will another ten of years elapsed before another World Cup qualification?
Poor historical background may be their sole disadvantage. But the strength of the team with which Nigeria will open their Africa Cup of Nations 2021 with is immense.
Nigerian teams have traditionally been poor travellers to Egypt and have never defeated the country in their territory.
Now under Portuguese coach, Carlos Queiroz who led Portugal to defeat Nigeria at the Under 20 World Cup in 1989, Egypt boast of key players like Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Elneny, Ahmed Hegazi and Mohamed El Shennawi.
If drawn against Egypt, the Super Eagles will do well to make the result a manageable one in the first leg with the hope of finishing up in Nigeria.
Nigeria-Egypt Head-to-Head
P W D L F A
Egypt 19 7 7 5 33 26
Nigeria 19 5 7 7 26 33
- 13 Dec. 1959 (OQ.) Nigeria 2-6 Egypt
- 1 Jan. 1960 (OQ.) Egypt 3-0 Nigeria
- 29 Nov. 1960 (F) Nigeria 1-2 Egypt
- 24 Nov. 1963 (ACN) Egypt 6-3 Nigeria
- 14 Jan. 1973 (2AAG) Nigeria 4-2 Egypt
- 14 Mar. 1976 (ACN) Nigeria 3-2 Egypt
- 8 Oct. 1977 (WCq) Nigeria 4-0 Egypt
- 21 Oct. 1977 (WCq) Egypt 3-1 Nigeria
- 15 Mar. 1980 (ACN) Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
- 18 Feb. 1983 (F) Nigeria 0-0 Egypt
- 20 Feb. 1983 (F) Nigeria 1-1 Egypt
- 14 Mar. 1984 (ACN) Egypt 2-2 Nigeria *(7 – 8 penalty shoot-out).
- 20 Mar. 1988 (ACN) Egypt 0-0 Nigeria
- 5 Mar. 1990 (ACN) Egypt 0-1 Nigeria
- 30 Mar. 1994 (ACN) Egypt 0-0 Nigeria
- 25 Nov. 2002 (F) Nigeria 1- 1 Egypt
- 12 Jan. 2010 (ACN) Egypt 3-1 Nigeria
- 25 Mar. 2016 (ACNq) Nigeria 1-1 Egypt
- 29 Mar. 2016 (ANCq) Egypt 1-0 Nigeria
- 26 Mar. 2019 (F) Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
Ghana
Ghana Black Stars have been long time rivals of the Nigerian national sides even in the colonial era. Fixtures with Ghana, although lately latent, command high tension.
The Black Stars have been early football superpowers in Africa and were the first to win eternally, a trophy for the Africa Cup of Nations following their hattrick achieved in the 1963, 1965 and the 1978 editions. They followed up with a fourth title in 1982.
But like Egypt, they have not had good runs in the qualification for the World Cup.
But they are perhaps the African sides with the nearest opportunity of getting into a World Cup semi-finals before their dream run in the 2010 was punctuated by poor marksmanship from the penalty spot.
Currently ranked 52 in the world seventh in Africa they boast of top players like Andrew Ayew, Jordan Ayew and Thomas Partey.
Nigeria have played more matches with Ghana more than with any other country. The pendulum however skewed in favour of Ghana.
Eternal rivalry will play a key factor if the Super Eagles are drawn to play Ghana in the World Cup qualifying playoff.
They are the team against which Nigeria played their first ever World Cup qualifying match on 28 August 1960. Nigeria lost the match 4-1 in Accra.
They have had to meet at the World Cup qualifying series for the 1970, 1974 and 2002 editions.
Nigeria-Ghana Head-to-Head
P W D L F A
Ghana 57 19 19 16 87 62
Nigeria 57 16 19 22 62 87
- 20 Oct.1951 (JalcoCup) Nigeria 5-0 Ghana
- 11 Oct.1953 (JalcoCup) Ghana 1-0 Nigeria
- 30 Oct.1954 (JalcoCup) Nigeria 3-0 Ghana
- 30 Oct.1955 (JalcoCup) Ghana 7-0 Nigeria
- 27Oct.1956 (JalcoCup) Nigeria 3-0 Ghana
- 27 Oct.1957 (JalcoCup) Ghana 3 -3 Nigeria
- 25 Oct.1958 (JalcoCup) Nigeria 3-2 Ghana
- 10 Oct. 1959 (OQ.) Nigeria 3 -1 Ghana
- 26 Oct. 1959 (OQ.) Ghana 4-1 Nigeria
- 22 Nov.1959 (JalcoCup) Ghana 5 -2 Nigeria
- 28 Aug. 1960 (WCq) Ghana 4-1 Nigeria
- 10 Sept. 1960 (WCq) Nigeria 2 -2 Ghana
- 9Oct.1960 (Nkrumah Cup) Nigeria 0-3 Ghana
- 29 Oct.1960 (Zik Cup) Nigeria 1-1 Ghana
- 8 April. 1961 (ACNq) Nigeria 0 -0 Ghana
- 30 Apr. 1961 (ACNq) Ghana 2-2 Nigeria
- 17 Dec. 1961 (F) Ghana 5 -1 Nigeria
- 10 Nov.1962 (F) Nigeria 0 -0 Ghana
- 23 Feb.1963 (Nkrumah Cup) Ghana 5-0 Nigeria
- 30 Oct.1965 (Zik Cup) Nigeria 0-4 Ghana
- 7 Nov.1965 (Zik Cup) Ghana 3-0 Nigeria
- 28 Jan.1967 (Zik Cup) Nigeria 2-2 Ghana
- 12 Feb.1967 (Zik Cup) Ghana 2-0 Nigeria
- 22 Oct.1967 (Zik Cup) Ghana 2-1 Nigeria
- 23 Dec1967 (Zik Cup) Nigeria 2 -2 Ghana
- 10 May 1969 (WCq) Nigeria 2-1 Ghana
- 18 May 1969 (WCq) Ghana 1-1 Nigeria
- 8 Jan.1973 (2AAG.) Nigeria 4-2 Ghana
- 10 Feb. 1973 (WCq) Nigeria 2-3 Ghana *Awarded 2- 0 to Ghana
- 25 Feb. 1973 (WCq) Ghana 0-0 Nigeria
- 11 Aug. 1974 (Festival) Nigeria 1-1 Ghana
- 17 Aug. 1974 (Festival) Nigeria 0-1 Ghana
- 24 Aug1975 (Festival) Ghana 1-2 Nigeria
- 30 Aug.1975 (Festival) Ghana 3-0 Nigeria
- 4 Sept.1977 (Ecowas) Nigeria 2-1 Ghana
- 8 Mar. 1978 (ACN) Ghana 1-1 Nigeria
- 21 July 1978 (3AAG) Ghana 0-0 Nigeria
- 1 May1983 (ECA.anniv) Ghana1-0 Nigeria
- 15 Oct. 1983 (OQ.) Nigeria 0 -0 Ghana
- 30 Oct. 1983 (OQ.) Ghana 1-2 Nigeria
- 5 March 1984(ACN) Ghana 1-2 Nigeria
- 27 Jul. 1986 (F) Ghana 2 -0 Nigeria
- 2 Sept.1990 (ACNq) Ghana 1-0 Nigeria
- 13 April 1991 (ACNq) Nigeria 0-0 Ghana
- 23 Jan. 1992 (ACN) Ghana 2-1 Nigeria
- 9 March 1994 (F) Nigeria 0-0 Ghana
- 28 Aug. 1999 (F) Nigeria 0-0 Ghana
- 11 Mar. 2001(WCq) Ghana 0-0 Nigeria
- 29 Jul.2001 (WCq) Nigeria 3-0 Ghana
- 3 Feb. 2002 (ACN) Ghana 0-1 Nigeria
- 15 Dec. 2002 (F) Ghana 0-1 Nigeria
- 30 May 2003 (LG Cup) Nigeria 3-1 Ghana
- 23 Jan. 2006 (ACN) Ghana 0-1 Nigeria
- 6 Feb 2007 (F) Ghana 4-1 Nigeria
- 3 Feb 2008 (ACN) Ghana 2-1 Nigeria
- 28 Jan. 2010 (ACN) Ghana 1-0 Nigeria
- 11 Oct. 2011 (F) Ghana 0-0 Nigeria
Cameroon
Although in head-to-head confrontations, Nigeria have edge over Cameroon, no match-up with the Indomitable Lions is ever considered an easy one. Until the 4 June 2021 defeat of the Super Eagles in a friendly match, the Nigerian side had had a three-decade of not losing any match in regulation time to Cameroon.
One of the biggest wins over Cameroon was in the qualifying series for the 2018 World Cup when the Indomitable Lions crumbled miserably in a 4-0 defeat in Uyo.
But the team had since regained their composure and are considered one of the most dreaded sides on the continent.
Besides, they were the first African sides to scale the group stage in the World Cup when they got to the quarter finals at Italia ‘90.
With seven appearances at the World Cup, they ranked among the most frequent African teams at the global event.
Nigeria-Cameroon Head-to-Head
P W D L F A
Nigeria 24 14 6 4 41 21
Cameroon 24 4 6 14 21 41
- 8 Dec.1962 (Nkrumah ) Nigeria3-1 Cameroon
- 1 Jan.1963 (Nkrumah) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
- 22 July 1966 (F) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
- 7 Dec.1968 (WCq) Nigeria 1-1Cameroon
- 22Dec.1968 (WCq) Cameroon 2-3 Nigeria
- 13 Feb.1972 (F) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
- 22 Jan. 1975 (F) Nigeria 1-0 Cameroon
- 2 Feb. 1980 (F) Nigeria 0 -0 Cameroon
- 18 Mar.1984 (ACN) Cameroon3-1 Nigeria
- 17 Mar. 1988(ACN) Cameroon 1-1Nigeria
- 27 Mar.1988 (ACN) Cameroon 1-0 Nigeria
- 10 June1989 (WCq) Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon
- 27 Aug.1989 (WCq) Cameroon 1-0Nigeria
- 25 Jan.1992 (ACN) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
- 7 Aug.1997 (LGCup) Cameroon 0-1Nigeria
- Feb.2000 (ACN) Nigeria 2-2 Cameroon *(3-4 penalty-shootout).
- 1June2003 (LGCup)Nigeria 3-0 Cameroon *aet
- Feb.2004 (ACN) Cameroon 1-2 Nigeria
- 11 Oct. 2015 (F) Nigeria 3-0 Cameroon
- 1 Sept. 2017 (WCq) Nigeria 4-0 Cameroon
- 4 Sept. 2017 (WCq) Cameroon 1-1 Nigeria
- 6 July 2019 (CAN) Nigeria 3-2 Cameroon
- 4 June 2021 (F) Cameroon 1-0 Nigeria
- 8 June 2021(F) Cameroon 0-0 Nigeria
Mali
Of the 10 group leaders now in the playoff for the World Cup qualification, Mali are the only sides without any previous appearance at the World Cup.
They are however one of the tricky teams in West Africa that can not be easily waved aside.
Despite being in the same subcontinent region with Nigeria, fixtures with Mali are rare. But Sports Village Square recalls that the Lagos National Stadium was opened with a 3-0 defeat of Mali on 4 December 1972.
Nigeria and Mali have met only nine times. The Malians were the Super Eagles’ stepping stone into the final match of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations which the team won.
They were previously coached by Nigeria’s Stephen Keshi. Mali are number 54 in the world and ninth in Africa by the current Fifa ranking. Their star players include: Kalifa Coulibaly, Moussa Djenepo and Amadou Haidara.
Nigeria-Mali Head-to-Head
P W D L F A
Nigeria 9 5 3 1 14 5
Mali 9 1 3 5 5 14
- 22 Nov. 1972 (F) Mali 2 -1 Nigeria
- 4 Dec. 1972 (F) Nigeria 3-0 Mali
- 14 Jul. 1978 (3AAG) Mali 1-3 Nigeria
- 18 Dec. 1983 (WAFU) Nigeria 0 -0 Mali * (4-5 penalty shoot-out).
- 24 Jan. 2002 (ACN) Mali 0 -0 Nigeria
- 9 Feb. 2002 (ACN) Mali 0-1 Nigeria
- 3 Feb. 2004 (ACN) Mali 1-2 Nigeria
- 25 Jan. 2008 (ACN) Mali 0-0 Nigeria
- 6 Feb. 2013 (ACN) Mali 1-4 Nigeria
DR Congo
Of the 10 group leaders now in the playoff for the World Cup qualification, DR Congo are the only sides outside the top 10 in the continent where they place 12th behind Burkina Faso and South Africa.
No nation in the continent has changed names more than DR Congo that had previously been called Congo Kinshasa, later Zaire and since 1996, DR Congo.
In the past, Congo DR have been ranked as high as 28 in the FIFA rankings. When they qualified for the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, they became the first Sub-Saharan African team to feature at global event.
Sports Village Square however recalls that they are the African sides with the most scandalous result when they crumbled 9-0 to the then Yugoslavia.
Should the Super Eagles be drawn against them, it will be a tricky match-up. Nigeria won their first Africa Cup of Nations match beating the then Zaire 4-2 in a Group match at Ethiopia 1976.
Fixtures of Nigeria and DR Congo is rare. They have met just nine times. But results have always been in favour of Nigeria. The Congolese however broke the apparent myth surrounding Nigeria’s matches on 8 October when they beat the Super Eagles 2-0 in Belgium in 2016.
Before then, Nigeria never lost a game on a 8 October date which is also the anniversary of Nigeria’s first international match and also, the first time the country qualified for the World Cup (8 October 1993).
Nigeria DR Congo Head-to-Head
P W D L F A
Nigeria 9 5 1 3 16 14
DR Congo 9 3 1 5 14 16
- 5 Nov.1966 (F) Nigeria 3-2 DR Congo
- 27 Nov. 1966 (F) DR Congo 1-0 Nigeria
- 13 Dec. 1969 (F) DR Congo 5-0 Nigeria
- 1Mar.1976 (ACN) DR Congo 2-4 Nigeria
- 19 Jan1992 (ACN) DR Congo 0 -1 Nigeria
- 2 April1994 (ACN) DR Congo 0-2 Nigeria
- 3 Mar. 2010 (F) Nigeria 5-2 DR Congo
- 8 Oct. 2015 (F) DR Congo 2-0 Nigeria
- 28 May 2018 (F) Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo
The ‘Finalissima’ match between Spain and Argentina that was scheduled to be held in Qatar has been cancelled due to the conflict in the Middle East, while the South American side rejected multiple alternatives, UEFA said on Sunday.
The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran have affected countries throughout the Gulf, disrupting travel in some of the world’s busiest transit hubs and forcing several sporting events to be cancelled due to safety concerns.
The contest between European champions Spain and Copa America winners Argentina was scheduled for March 27 at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, where fans would have had the opportunity to watch Lionel Messi go head-to-head with Lamine Yamal.
UEFA said they held discussions with the organising authorities in Qatar and concluded that the match could not take place due to the “current political situation” in the region.
“It is a source of great disappointment to UEFA and the organisers that circumstances and timing have denied the teams of the chance to compete for this prestigious prize in Qatar,” UEFA said in a statement.
Qatar’s Local Organising Committee said airspace disruption and travel restrictions led to the cancellation of its Qatar Football Festival, where the host country, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Serbia were also set to play friendly games this month.
The Football Association of Serbia later announced they would play away in Spain on March 27 and host Saudi Arabia four days later.
OTHER ALTERNATIVES REJECTED BY ARGENTINA
The Finalissima’s cancellation was not just about Qatar’s security concerns, however, with UEFA saying they explored other feasible alternatives, but they proved to be ‘unacceptable’ to the Argentinian Football Association (AFA).
UEFA first offered to stage the match at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid with a 50:50 split of supporters in the stadium.
A second option was to stage the Finalissima over two legs — at the Bernabeu on March 27 and the second leg in Buenos Aires during an international window before the next Euros and Copa America in 2028.
However, the AFA rejected both options. UEFA said Argentina made a counter offer to play the game after the World Cup but Spain had no available dates.
“Ultimately, UEFA sought a commitment from Argentina that, if a neutral venue in Europe could be found, the game could go ahead on 27 March… or on the alternative date of 30 March. This proposal was also rejected,” UEFA added.
SPAIN WERE READY TO PLAY
The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said they had offered Argentina “all possible options” in collaboration with UEFA to ensure the match went ahead, adding that they had the organisational capacity to stage the clash on short notice.
“From the very outset, the Federation has expressed its absolute commitment to ensuring this match goes ahead, as it believes it brings prestige and international reputation at a crucial time in a World Cup year,” the RFEF said.
“Furthermore, it has worked tirelessly to achieve this. Spain was prepared to play, as has always been stated.”
The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada kicks off on June 11.
The 2022 edition of the Finalissima was held at Wembley Stadium in London where Argentina beat Italy 3-0.
-Reuters
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Soccer chiefs from Europe and South America will hold a final meeting before a Thursday deadline to decide whether and where this month’s “Finalissima” between Spain and Argentina will be played, with London emerging as the leading candidate after doubts over Doha, multiple sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
The match between European champions Spain and Copa America holders Argentina had been scheduled for March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Doha.
However, it has become increasingly unlikely that Qatar will host the fixture after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory missiles fired at the Arabian Peninsula.
The Spanish FA (RFEF) has been pushing for a swift resolution, mindful that the March international break is viewed as vital preparation ahead of the June-July World Cup in North America.
“I know that negotiations are underway,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente told Spanish Public Radio (RNE) on Monday. “The first thing, as a society, is to stop the conflict, but once you are immersed in it and you don’t know how long it will last, the solution would be, as long as you can’t play there, to find another venue as soon as possible.
Wembley Stadium staged the previous edition in 2022, when Argentina beat Italy, but it is set to host England v Uruguay on March 27. London, however, has other stadiums capable of staging the showpiece, leaving the English capital as the most likely alternative should Doha be ruled out, sources confirmed.
ALTERNATIVE OPPONENTS CONSIDERED
While keen to face Argentina and high-profile players such as Lionel Messi, sources told Reuters that Spain had made clear their priority was not to waste the last window of international fixtures before the World Cup and they were already contemplating alternative opponents.
With Spain also due to face Egypt three days later, any change would require agreement between the RFEF and European soccer body UEFA, South American confederation CONMEBOL, global governing body FIFA and the Argentine FA (AFA).
The RFEF, AFA and UEFA did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
A spokesperson for South American confederation CONMEBOL told Reuters that several meetings between the parties had taken place in recent days but did not confirm Thursday’s deadline or London as the preferred venue.
Madrid was initially proposed by the RFEF but rejected by the AFA, who preferred a neutral venue rather than giving Spain home advantage.
Morocco offered to stage the game, but the RFEF was unwilling to back their Mediterranean neighbours amid tensions behind the scenes over the 2030 World Cup, which Spain, Morocco and Portugal will co-host. Both Spain and Morocco are campaigning to stage the final.
Miami was also considered, with Messi based there at Inter Miami, but Hard Rock Stadium is hosting the Miami Open tennis tournament at the same time.
-Reuters
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International Football
Spain-Argentina ‘Finalissima’ in Qatar at risk amid US, Israel attacks on Iran
The match between Spain and Argentina, tagged “Finalissima” in Doha, is in doubt after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory missiles fired at the Arabian Peninsula.
The contest between European Championship winners Spain and Copa America champions Argentina was scheduled for March 27 at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, with potential big-name draws including Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.
“Qatar Football Association announces the postponement of all tournaments, competitions and matches, effective from today and until further notice,” the association said in a statement on Sunday.
“The new dates for the resumption of competitions will be announced in due course through the Association’s official channels.”
The final call on whether to postpone the game rests with event organisers UEFA and CONMEBOL.
The Bahrain Football Association postponed all its matches until further notice, while the Asian Football Confederation on Sunday announced it was delaying Champions League Elite fixtures in the region.
The Asian Champions League Two, currently at the quarter-final stage, has also been impacted, along with games in the Challenge League.
Countries across the Middle East have been on high alert since Saturday, when the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes against Iran, aimed at diminishing Iran’s military capability.
Iran retaliated by attacking U.S. targets around the region, including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
On Sunday, Qatar’s interior ministry reported a fire in an industrial zone after debris fell from an intercepted missile.
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