September friendly: Super Eagles to face dethroned African champions

Two of Africa’s most successful football teams are looking to stay competitive after missing football’s biggest fiesta later in the year

Nigeria and Algeria are set to meet in a friendly encounter at the New Stadium in Oran, Algeria, on September 27.

The two African giants were at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, where the Desert Foxes relinquished the trophy they won at the 2019 edition.

The Super Eagles also ended the tournament in disappointment, exiting at the first knockout stage despite winning all their three group matches.

Coach Jose Peseiro’s men will next do battle against an Algerian team that has won four of five games since that Afcon debacle, beating Uganda, Tanzania, and Iran.

The only defeat they suffered to Cameroon, though, cost them a ticket to the FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar in November.

Nigeria also failed to qualify for the Mundial, losing on the away-goal rule to fierce West African rivals Ghana.

The Super Eagles have, however, not been in action since handing a 10-0 drubbing to Sao Tome and Principe in June.

Algeria have won their last two matches against Nigeria, defeating the Super Eagles 2-1 in the semi-final of Afcon 2019 and claiming a 1-0 friendly win in Austria in October 2020.