After two days of intensive training, West African heavyweights, Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Teranga Lions of Senegal will renew their rivalry tonight in an international friendly match at the Hive Stadium in central London. Kick off is 9pm Nigerian time.
Both teams will be using the match as preparation for group phase qualifiers in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, which get underway with Match-day One fixtures in June.
After missing out in the last edition in Gabon, Eagles have been drawn in Group E and will begin their campaign with a clash at home to South Africa, while the Teranga Lions start their Group A campaign hosting Equatorial Guinea.
Nigeria and Senegal have met in 15 official international matches according to FIFA’s statistical database out which the Super Eagles have claimed eight wins compared to four by the Teranga Lions, while three matches have been drawn.
Although both teams met at a WAFU Nations Cup tournament in 2010 which Super Eagles won, the match was not recognised as an official match because it was mainly for home-based players.
But in their last official match, Nigeria triumphed over the Lions twice in the African Cup of Nations in 2006 in Egypt. First at the group stage which ended 2-1 in Port Said and in the third placed match in Cairo which Nigeria won by a lone goal at the Military Stadium to claim the third consecutive bronze medal in the tournament.
The Super Eagles’ Hotel Crowne Plaza Ealing in London has been very much alive since Monday following the arrival of 17 of the 25 players invited for two top –drawer friendlies tonight and next Monday against Burkina Faso.
Earliest arrivals were FC Porto of Portugal’s Chidozie Awaziem, England –based Ahmed Musa, Carl Ikeme, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi and Isaac Success, Belgium –based Moses Simon, Turkey –based Ogenyi Onazi, Germany –based newcomer Noah Joel Bazee and the versatile Abdullahi Shehu from Cyprus.
Super-Eagles-praying
Before dinner time on Monday, the list had swelled to 17 with the arrivals of Leon Balogun, William Ekong, Tyronne Ebuehi, John Ogu, Kelechi Iheanacho and Kenneth Omeruo.
However, the withdrawal of Victor Moses from the squad has reportedly left Coach Gernot Rohr said with the Chelsea FC wing back.
According to allnigeriasoccer.com, the coach was visibly angry with the Chelsea player during the talks held between the pair earlier in the week.
Moses reported for duty at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in London, but only in order to prove to Nigeria’s medical staff that he is injured and will be unable to play in the upcoming matches. His withdrawal has since been confirmed.
Moses picked up a calf injury against Manchester United in the FA Cup last week, but was fit enough to play for Chelsea in their win over Stoke City this past weekend.
It’s a second major withdrawal in a row for Moses, who pulled out of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Zambia in October last year.
There is at least some good news for Super Eagles fans, with Watford striker Isaac Success dispelling fears that he too will be unavailable. The Hornets attacker trained without any problem on Tuesday.