International Football

Strengths and weaknesses of Nigeria’s possible World Cup playoff opponents

Published

3 years ago

November 17, 2021

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 12^th 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

International Football

Former Chelsea manager, Pochettino takes over US men’s team

Published

1 week ago

September 11, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Nottingham Forest v Chelsea - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - May 11, 2024 Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/Molly Darlington/File Photo

Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has been named new coach of the United States men’s team, U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday.

Pochettino, who parted ways with Premier League side Chelsea in May after one season in charge, will take the reins of the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States.

The Argentine, a former Paris St Germain and Tottenham Hotspur manager, said his decision to join U.S. soccer was not just about football, but about the journey the country was on and he could not pass up the opportunity.

“The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here – those are the things that inspired me,” he said in a statement.

“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of.”

U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said Pochettino was a “serial winner with a deep passion for developing players”.

“His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad. We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage.”

The U.S. have been without a permanent coach since a humiliating early exit from the Copa America on home soil in July led to the sacking of Gregg Berhalter after his second stint as head coach.

The 51-year-old boss was first appointed in 2018 and led the Americans to the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup, but just weeks later found himself embroiled in a bitter public row with one of the team’s brightest emerging talents, Gio Reyna.

U.S. Soccer’s search for a new coach when Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of 2022 included names such as Canada coach Jesse Marsch, but they ultimately rehired Berhalter in June last year with the full support of the players.

However, it proved unsuccessful as the U.S. failed to progress beyond the group stages of the Copa America after a shock 2-1 defeat to Panama and a crushing 1-0 loss to Uruguay.

Pochettino will take over after Mikey Varas, who has been appointed interim coach, oversaw friendlies against Canada last Saturday and New Zealand on Tuesday.

The U.S. drew 1-1 with New Zealand in Cincinnati after Christian Pulisic’s goal was cancelled out by Ben Waine’s late equaliser.

The U.S. will next play friendlies against Panama on Oct. 12 and Mexico three days later.

-Reuters

International Football

BREAKING – Video: Osimhen accepts to join Galatasaray

Published

3 weeks ago

September 3, 2024

Kunle Solaja

At last, Nigeria’s striker Victor Osimhen is out of the limbo. He has accepted to join Galatasaray on loan.

He is now asking for a release clause at Napoli to become €75m instead of €130m

He also wants a break clause for January in case top clubs approach him over move.

The final points are being discussed. He has been videoed celebrating with the Turkey club’s fans.

International Football

Uruguay striker Suarez to play last international match on Friday

Published

3 weeks ago

September 3, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez announced his international retirement on Monday, ending a 17-year career with his national team as their top scorer with 69 goals.

The 37-year-old, who has 142 caps for his country, made his international debut in 2007 and was key in the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and won the Copa America a year later.

“Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team,” an emotional Suarez told a press conference.

“The fact that is my decision to retire and that I’m not retired because of injuries or that they stop calling me for one thing or another, that gives me a lot of comfort, it helps me individually.

“It’s difficult but it gives me peace of mind that until the last game I have given my all, and that flame has not been extinguished little by little,” the striker added.

Uruguay take on Paraguay at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo on Friday in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup before facing Venezuela four days later.

Suarez scored the stoppage-time goal against Canada that secured third place at the Copa America in July and the striker added that one of his aims was to show he could continue to contribute to the national team.

“My dream was for my children to see me win something important with the national team … that last goal was very nice for them and even though it wasn’t a trophy to take home, it was very nice for them,” he said.

“I wanted to show people again that I can continue to contribute to the national team and, well, I had the Copa America and yes, I could have done it (retired) perfectly after that, but having analysed the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium.

“I want my children to live this experience. Saying goodbye with the people here is something that I don’t know if many have done.”

Suarez has already said Inter Miami will be his last club after joining the Major League Soccer side last year to reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

-Reuters