By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
After two victories over Tanzania and Tunisia, which have guaranteed a Round of 16 spot, Nigeria is set to beat Uganda or, at worst, grind out a draw when both countries meet in the last Group C match of the ongoing CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Fès, Morocco today to maintain her 100% record in the competition so far.
Prompt News reports that on current form, quality of players and pedigree in AFCON, the Super Eagles of Nigeria are heads and shoulders above the Cranes of Ugandan as the West Africans boasts of world-class players in their fold like the duo of Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman of Atalanta BC among others.
This is even as Nigeria has already won two matches in the competition while Uganda’s Cranes had to come from behind to force a 1-1 draw with Tanzania in their last match after suffering a 1-3 loss to Tunisia in the first match.
However, heading into Today’s third group match, statistics show that The Cranes of Uganda surprisingly have a massive edge over the Super Eagles of Nigeria,
Head-to-head records of the previous matches between both countries
showed that Uganda had won more games and Nigeria could not defeat Uganda the last time both sides met in an international friendly tie in Asaba, Delta State.
Dating back to Uganda’s biggest win against Nigeria was in the semi-finals stage of the 1978 AFCON in Ghana, which is now being used as a major reference point for a likely repeat of that shock victory by The Cranes today Fès in Morocco. The fluke 2-1 victory over Nigeria remains their sole encounter at the finals to date.
Historically, the two sides have met eight times across all competitions with Uganda holding the edge with four wins to Nigeria’s two, while two matches have ended in draws. Uganda also avoided defeat in their last three matches against Nigeria (W2 D1).
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In fact, Nigeria’s last victory over Uganda was in AFCON qualifying for the 2008 tournament, when they won 1-0 on 24 March 2007 at MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, with Nwankwo Kanu scoring the only goal in the 73rd minute.
But it will be a different ball game when both countries clash in Fès because the present generation of Europe-based stars in the Super Eagles team want to win the AFCON title, and to achieve this single objective, the Super Eagles will have to keep winning matches.
With the last 16 ticket already secured by Nigeria, head coach Eric Sékou Chelle is expected to tweak his game plans and decides to give opportunities to the majority of players who have not featured in the two earlier matches against Tanzania and Tunisia.
For this reason, fans will see new faces in the Super Eagles line-up today against the Cranes of Uganda as Chelle is like to test his back-up team by putting Francis Uzoho in the posts to be guided by defenders Chidozie Awaziem, Igoh Ogbu, Bruno Onyemaechi and Zaidu Sanusi.
Prompt News reports team captain Wilfred Ndidi may pair Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge; SS Lazio’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Tochukwu Nnadi of Zulte Waregem while the front three of Cyriel Dessers of Panathinaikos; Turkey-based Paul Onuachu and Sevilla’s Chidera Ejuke in the preferred 4-3-3 formation of the Super Eagles.
In all, the Cranes of Uganda, who came from behind to force a 1-1 draw with Tanzania in their last match, will have a busy day today when they confront the title-hungry Super Eagles at Fès stadium today.
