The long-standing rivalry between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Black Stars of Ghana will be reignited when they face off at the Stade de Marrakech Stadium on Friday, as reported by Soccernet.ng.
The squad that was led to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations by Jose Peseiro will, this time, be led against Ghana and Mali following the exit of the Portuguese gaffer.
The highly anticipated “Jollof Derby” match will be without some key players like Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi, who can, with their skills, pose threats to their opponents in the upcoming clash.
However, there are other key players to look out for in the game against Ghana who can make a difference for the Finidi George-led squad.
Stanley Nwabali:
The Chippa United goalkeeper established himself at the Africa Cup of Nations with four clean sheets out of seven games played by the Super Eagles in the tournament.
Having impressed with his saves, he has gained the admiration of many Nigerians and coaches, who have tagged him for the number one spot for goalkeepers.
There were fears that the Nigerian goalkeeper might not be available for the clash. Still, having been spotted in the Super Eagles’ training session yesterday, he is expected to continue from where he left off at the AFCON by keeping a clean sheet against the Black Stars.
Nathan Tella:
The Bayer Leverkusen forward missed out on the Super Eagles AFCON campaign but has been impressive at the club level during the AFCON. He is one of the players to watch.
Although he has not earned enough minutes with the Super Eagles, if given time against Ghana, he will be one of the players to deliver an impressive performance against Ghana.
Wilfred Ndidi:
The expertise of the Leicester City midfielder was missed in the Super Eagles’ midfield during the AFCON, and with his vision for his teammates on the pitch, he will deliver on the passes and defense.
Having just recovered from injury, he has not earned enough minutes at the club level, but he will be aiming for more minutes at the country level.
Cyriel Dessers:
The Rangers FC forward played his last game for the Super Eagles against Algeria in 2022 and has since made only four appearances for the Nigerian national team.
His recent performance for his club, scoring 12 goals and making 3 assists in 26 appearances, shows he is hungry for goals. He will be aiming to establish himself as a formidable striker when they tackle Ghana on Friday.
Alex Iwobi:
The Super Eagles star was subject to criticism after Nigeria’s loss to Cote d’Ivoire in the final of the 2023 AFCON for his subpar performance.
Although it is noted that he was played by Peseiro in a position where he could not maximize his full potential.
Against Ghana, he will be looking to make a difference to the Nigerian football fans and establish himself as a key player.
