THE Nigeria Football Federation has announced that the Super Eagles will play two friendly matches later this month against fellow West Africans Ghana and Mali, with Luton Town defender Gabriel Osho set to make his debut.
Both matches, which will be played in Marrakech, Morocco, have been put together by NFF’s FIFA match agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport, the body confirmed today.
The clash with long-time rivals Ghana’s Black Stars, will be played on Friday, March 22, with the Mali match billed for four days later
The most recent battle in the age-old rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana was in March 2022 in the play-offs for a place at that year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar, with the Black Stars edging the two-legged tie on the away-goal rule after a 1-1 aggregate score.
Nigeria’s Eagles and Mali’s Eagles last clashed in a friendly match in Rouen, France in 2016, with the game ending 0-0.
Mali had, three years earlier, lost 4-1 to eventual champions Super Eagles in Durban in the semi-finals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Both friendlies against Ghana and Mali will be played at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, the first one at 4pm and the second at 9pm.
In addition to Osho, Super Eagles have retained most of the squad that finished as runners-up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, with Wilfred Ndidi and Taiwo Awoniyi recalled after injury-enforced absences at AFCON 2023 in January and February.
England-based defender Jamilu Collins, as well as Empoli FC of Italy’s Tyronne Ebuehi and Glasgow Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers are also recalled.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella and Turkey-based Fisayo Dele-Bashiru have also been added to the squad, along with newcomer, Tanzania-based Benjamin Tianimu.
SUPER EAGLES SQUAD FOR FRIENDLY MATCHES AGAINST GHANA AND MALI
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defenders:
Gabriel Osho (Luton FC, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff City, Wales); Benjamin Tianimu (Ihefu SC, Tanzania)
Midfielders:
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards:
Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
