By Victor Enyinnaya on July 14, 2019

It will be a battle between West and North Africa as the 2019 Egypt Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) enters the semi-final stage today, Sunday, July 14, 2019. Of the four qualified teams, two – Nigeria and Senegal – are from West Africa while the other two, namely, Algeria and Tunisia, are from the North. Nigeria will battle Algeria while Senegal take on Tunisia.

The semis of the Africa football summit that started on June 19 can be likened to wars of the titans. Nigeria has been going on despite some reservations by pundits that predicted slim chances for the three-time African champions.

It is instructive to observe that our opponents have found it difficult to accurately read our team’s games and it has created confusion for our opponents. As it is today one cannot really point out the weakest link in the team. I know many will say goalkeeping but the defence has covered well except to say on few occasions where confusion and panic led to the conceding of goals.

Reports that the Eagles went into close training show the seriousness attached to the uphill task ahead. It further points to the fact that it does not want to take chances. The key is focus, concentration, purposeful display that would throw up team work remains the antidote that would subdue the over ambitious Desert Foxes of Algeria.

It is left for Eagles chief tactician Gernot Rohr to come up with other killer match plans that would vanquish the Algerians. We must have in mind that it is going to a massive game involving arch-rivals. Though Nigeria has an edge over her day’s opponent, it must be pointed out that history does not necessarily guarantee victory in football. The implication: Super Eagles must not rely on the past victories but must face the present squarely today.

It may be safe to predict that Nigeria will triumph though not on a platter of gold.

Statistics have it that both countries have met 20 times and Nigeria won 10 games, lost six and drew four. It therefore implies that head-to-head, Nigeria is superior to Algeria. No doubt such credential would be an added stimuli and morale booster as the Eagles file out against the Desert Foxes in the land of Pharaohs today.

It would be recalled that shortly after independence in 1960, it took 13 years before both nations met in a football match but it finally came precisely on January 10, 1973 during the Second All Africa Games, hosted by Nigeria in Lagos and the awful encounter ended 2 - 2 with Gideon Njoku and Sunny Oyarekhua scoring Nigeria’s two goals. Towering Emmanuel Okala was in goal while Dominic Ezeani, Haruna Ilerika and Yakubu Mambo were in the line-up as reliable Godwin Achebe was the captain of the team.

It is instructive to note that the two countries met on historic dates with figure 10. For instance, on October 10, 1981, and March 10, 1982, it is on record that on both encounters Nigeria lost the games.

That first encounter equally demonstrated the fact that it would never be easy for each of the sides whenever the two countries would meet in subsequent clashes.

Instructively, each side defeated the other to win the Africa Cup of Nations and for the first time too.

On our side, exceptional goals from Segun Odegbami (two) and Muda Lawal aided Nigeria’s 3-0 win over Algeria on March 22, 1980, which thus steadied Christian Chukwu to lift the Nations Cup for the first time for Nigeria on home soil (Lagos). And precisely ten years after, on March 16, 1990, Algeria beat Nigeria 1-0 to clinch her first Nations Cup, also on home soil.

Another important fact is that each country had suffered humiliation at home from the other. On their way to Espena 1982 World Cup, the Eagles had the Desert Foxes as their last opponent enroute qualification for our first World Cup finals. Woefully, the Warriors as the national side of Algeria was then known, forced a very bitter pill down our throat, soaring 2-0 over the then Green Eagles right in front the partisan teeming Lagos crowd.

It was at the same National Stadium Lagos that Christian Chukwu was cheered and cheered when he lifted Africa’s most prestigious football diadem, the Nations Cup a year after was severely booed out when he was replaced by Stephen Keshi. It turned out to be Chukwu’s last game for the national team.

Therefore, it took Nigeria almost a quarter of a century to repay the Algerians in their coin and it was 2006 World Cup qualifier game enroute Germany. Eagles humiliated the Desert Foxes 5 - 2.

Significantly Nigeria picked her first World Cup ticket via a vital away draw against Algeria on October 8, 1993. Finidi George scored that phenomenon of a goal. It was also Algeria that Nigeria defeated to play our first Olympics football on January 30, 1988 in Enugu. Henry Nwosu got Eagles’ winner it was Samuel Okwaraji’s first cap for Nigeria.

And Nigeria went to Seoul 88 Olympics. Consequent upon that, Nigeria bashed Algeria on January 20, 2010 in a Nations Cup third place match in Angola. The last time Algeria visited Nigeria, was Russia World Cup qualifier and Eagles won 3 – 1 and played 1 – 1 in Algiers. Prominently, at the last semi-final match March 23, 1988 in Morocco, Nigeria saw off Algeria, 9 - 8 on penalties after scores stood at 1-1 regulation time.

The last time Algeria defeated Nigeria was on March 16, 1990 when Eagles lost 1-0 in a Nations Cup final game in Algiers. Summed up, it shows that in the last 29 years, Nigeria has typically maintained superiority over and if history can repeat itself, Eagles are set to fly over the Desert Foxes.

It won’t be child’s play today as the rivalry is rekindled. The quickest thinking bench with superior instructions to the boys and the boys able to replay to such and tailored same to victory will sing victoriously when the referee signifies the end of proceeding.

Eagles have shown some good measure of consistency in their last two matches where the team dispatched the defending champions Cameroun and South Africa. Analysts expect a repeat tonight in Egypt. Eagles of Hope, fly high to the finals!

•Photo shows the Super Eagles training before a crucial match

Source Daily Sports

Posted July 14, 2019

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