Two African teams currently at the African Cup of Nations, Afcon; Nigeria and Ivory Coast will be presenting formidable opposition to the Argentine national team in March of 2024.
The Official social media handles of Argentina made announcements about the games.
The selection of two African teams was motivated by the lack of a formidable European opponent or a location with advantageous logistics.
The Argentine football team will play two African opponents during the friendly window in March when it travels to China, the AFA announced on Monday, following an agreement with a Chinese corporation.
The Albiceleste’s two longtime allies, Nigeria and Ivory Coast, will put them to the test as they get ready to defend their continental crown in the US.
During their tour of China, Argentina will play Nigeria at the Olympics Sports Center stadium in Hangzhou.
It will be the tenth high-level match between Nigeria and the Argentine national team, with the latter leading the former in the FIFA rankings at 42.
In particular, their five World Cup meetings have resulted in victories for the Albiceleste (2-1 in 1994, 1-0 in 2002, 1-0 in 2010, 3-2 in 2014, and 2-1 in 2018).
The other win came in a friendly match in 2011 when Argentina won 3-1 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The only ever draw was in the King Fahd Cup (0-0) in 1995; the other two losses were in friendlies, with the most recent one occurring in Abuja in 2011 and from 2-4 at Krasnodar, Russia, in 2017.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have progressed to the quarter-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations after a 2-0 win over Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Ivory Coast on Saturday.
Nigeria will face Angola; who also got a win over Namibia in the same stage, in the quarter-finals February 2, as they hope to claim a fourth continental title after previous wins in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
It was a blockbuster clash that had generated reviews as the old rivals squared off yet again at the continental showpiece, but it was the Nigerians who made short work of their eastern neighbours with a comfortable victory in Abidjan.
Nigeria had a goal disallowed in controversial circumstances after defender Semi Ajayi found target in the ninth minute off Ademola Lookman’s corner that was parried into the pathway of Simon Moses, before Semi got his attempt.
Moroccan referee Redouane Jiyed ruled out the goal for offside after consulting the Video Assistant Referee.
The Super Eagles, however found the back of the net in the 36th minute after Osimhen displayed strength and alertness to win possession off Oumar Gonzalez just outside the penalty area, then picked out Ademola Lookman with a diagonal pass to the right of the penalty area and the Atalanta winger’s shot squeezed in through Ondoa’s gloves to give Nigeria the lead.
Ademola Lookman grabbed his second of the night just before the 90th minute mark after a quickly worked free-kick on the left, from which Alex Iwobi sent Calvin Bassey clear inside the box. Bassey found Lookman and the winger’s measured finish hit target once again through Ondoa’s fingers on a night to forget for the Cameroon goalkeeper.
October 17, 2023
The Super eagles of Nigeria on Monday, got their very first Victory in a friendly match in 5 years as goals by Terem Moffi, Frank Onyeka and Moses Simon steered Nigeria to a 3-2 victory over 10-man Mozambique in their international friendly encounter in Portimäo, Portugal.
The hard fought victory in Portugal was the first for the Super Eagles in a friendly match in 55 months, which dates back to March 2019 when Paul Onuachu’s first minute goal accounted for the defeat of seven-time African champions, Egypt, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
The Mambas got in front with a shock goal after only six minutes when Catamo dragged the ball past goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, who anticipated the ball in a different direction.
France -based striker Terem Moffi then equalized in the 19th minute, when he had the last laugh as the Mozambican defenders threw themselves at every shot in their penalty area.
Midfielder Frank Onyeka put Nigeria in front at the half hour mark, when his measured shot from the edge of the box sailed into the net. The Super Eagles, who have adopted the battle cry ‘Let’s Do It Again’ for their quest for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title come Cote d’Ivoire early next year, dominated afterwards and got a third goal when the irrepressible Moses Simon netted from the penalty spot in added time in the first half.
The southern Africans were bullish in the second period, unhindered by the numerical disadvantage following a red card to one of their players in the first half, and got a second goal through Bangal with 10 minutes into the closing half.
Victory means the Eagles have established a winning mentality ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches starting in November, as well as the 43th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
September 22, 2023
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have dropped 1 position in the latest FIFA rankings, despite their impressive performance in the AFCON Qualifiers against Sao Tome and Principe.
The Eagles, who were ranked 39th in the rankings released in June, lost three points and dropped to 40th on the world stage and 6th on the African continent which knocks Nigeria out of Pot 1 ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations draw slated for 12th October, 2023.
Morocco remains Africa’s number one nation, sitting in 13th place in the world ranking.
While Senegal dropped two places and now rank 20th in the world, they maintained their second position in Africa.
Tunisia are the only African country among the top six on the continent to move up globally. They were ranked 31 in the previous rankings but in the update released by FIFA on Thursday, they now occupy the 29th position in the world.
Algeria (34) and Egypt (35) complete the Top 5 in Africa.
Globally, World Cup winners, Argentina, are still the number one ranked nation ahead of France, Brazil, England, and Belgium, while to major move was Portugal moving up to replace Italy in the 8th Position.
