National Teams
NFF set up grade A friendlies for Nigeria against Ghana, Mali in Morocco
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has organized high-profile friendlies for the Nigerian national team against familiar foes Ghana and Mali in Morocco.
Scheduled for Marrakech later this month, Nigeria will face the Black Stars of Ghana on Friday, March 22nd, followed by a clash against the Eagles of Mali on Sunday at the same venue.
The matchup against Ghana revives a historic rivalry dating back to 1951 when Nigeria triumphed over the then Gold Coast team in a Jalco Cup encounter, setting the stage for an intense showdown.
In their most recent encounter in March 2022, Nigeria and Ghana battled it out in a two-legged play-off for a spot in the FIFA World Cup finals, with the Black Stars narrowly advancing on the away-goal rule after a 1-1 aggregate.
Meanwhile, Nigeria and Mali, both nicknamed ‘Eagles’, last met in a friendly match in Rouen, France, in 2016, which ended in a goalless draw. Notably, Mali faced defeat against the Super Eagles in the semi-finals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
The upcoming matches promise to reignite old rivalries and provide an opportunity for both Nigeria and Mali to showcase their talent on the international stage.
The clash between Nigeria and Ghana is scheduled to kick off at 4 PM Morocco time on March 22nd, while the encounter between Nigeria and Mali will follow at 9 PM on Tuesday, March 26th, at the Grand Stade de Marrakech.
