By Augustine Akhilomen
After 26 years since the two teams met, Nigeria’s Super Eagles will aim at maintaining their dominance as they face the Hawks of Togo in an international friendly match on Thursday (today 6pm Nigerian time) at the Stade Municipal de Saint Leu La Foret, Paris.
Both teams will be using the game as part of preparation for their forthcoming 2019 AFCON qualifiers that will begin on June 9-12. On the part of the Super Eagles they will be facing the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in June 10 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
The last time both teams met was at the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where the team played out a goalless draw to eliminate Togo out of the race, having won the previous encounter 3-0 in Lagos.
Statistically, Nigeria and Togo have clashed 16 times at senior level, including competitive and friendly matches. Nigeria dominate with six wins over Togo’s three. Seven of the 16 encounters ended in draw.
Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, who is yet to taste defeat since taking over the managerial job of the team last year (2016), is poise to maintain his unbeaten record. The team narrowly escaped defeat against Corsica last week Friday as a late penalty goal from Kelechi Iheanacho secured a 1-1 draw for the team in their first international friendly match in Ajaccio, France.
With the current squad at his disposal such as Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa, Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Osimhen, Ogenyi Onazi, Simon Moses, Elderson Echiejile, William Troost-Ekong and a few to mention, it is expected that the team would put their West African neighbour to the slaughter slab today.
After then encounter the Super Eagles will return back to Nigeria to continue their preparation ahead of their big clash against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Uyo.
