ORI MARTINS
Yes, the Algerian trouble is here! But Nigeria can still go through at the end of the day. Statistics show that both countries had met 20 times. Nigeria won 10, lost six and drew four. The import is that head -to -head, Nigeria is atop of Algeria. And this is a morale booster for the Eagles as they file our against the Desert Warriors of Algeria in a 2019 African Nations Cup semi final game in Egypt on Sunday.
After independence in 1960, it took 13 years before both sides met on January 10, 1973 during the Second All Africa Games, hosted in Lagos. The excruciating encounter ended 2 – 2 with Gideon Njoku and Sunny Oyarekhua scoring Nigeria’s two goals. Reliable Emmanuel Okala manned the post, Dominic Ezeani, Haruna Ilerika and Yakubu Mambo were on parade just as Godwin Achebe was the captain.
The above encounter was a historic outing as in the next decade, both countries still met on dates with figure 10. That is, on October 10, 1981, and March 10, 1982. On both occasions Nigeria lost.
That first encounter equally demonstrated the fact that it would never be easy for each of the sides whenever the two countries would meet in subsequent clashes.
Significantly, it must be pointed out that one striking and unique symbolism in the Nigeria/ Algeria affair is that each team defeated the other to win the Nations Cup, and for the first time too. For instance, excellent goals from Segun Odegbami (two) and Muda Lawal aided Nigeria’s 3- 0 win over Algeria on March 22, 1980, thus enabling Christian Chukwu to lift the Nations Cup for the first time for Nigeria on home soil (in Lagos). Exactly 10 years after, on March 16, 1990, Algeria beat Nigeria 1-0 to run away with the Nations Cup for the first time, also on home soil.
Another significant point is that each country had suffered humiliation at home from the other. A gleam into historical antecedents will give credence to this ascertion. For instance, en route to the Espena ’82 World Cup, the Eagles had the Desert Warriors as their last hurdle in order to qualify for their first ever World Cup Finals. Sadly, the bubble burst. Algeria inflicted an unforgatble injury on Nigeria, bashing their rivals 2-0 in Lagos. Captain Christian Chukwu who who was cheered on when he listed the Nations Cup just a year ago was roundly booed out as he was replaced by Stephen Keshi. It was Chukwu’s last game as he never played for Nigeria again. Nigeria replied almost a quarter of a century later. It was a Germany 2006 World Cup qualifier. Eagles travelled far north to hammer the Desert Warriors 5 – 2.
Also, it must be proclaimed to the rooftops that Nigeria picked her first World Cup ticket by picking a vital away draw against Algeria on October 8, 1993. Finidi got that wonder goal. It was also Algeria that Nigeria defeated to play in her first Olympics football participation on January 30, 1988 in Enugu. Henry Nwosu got Eagles’ winner it was Okwaraji’a first cap for Nigeria. And Nigeria zoomed to Seoul 88 Olympics. At the same time, Nigeria saw Algeria off on January 20, 2010 in Nations Cup third place encounter in Angola. The last time Algeria visited Nigeria, it was a Russia World Cup qualifier and Eagles won 3 – 1 even as they traveled to Algeria to play a 1 – 1 draw. And very importantly, at the last semi final game involving both countries on March 23, 1988 in Morocco, Nigeria flew over Algeria, 9 – 8 on penalties after scores stood at 1-1 regulation time.
The last time Algeria defeated Nigeria was on March 16, 1990 when Eagles lost 1 -0 to Desert Warriors in a Nations Cup final game in Algiers. That is, in the last 29 years, Nigeria had usually got the better part of Algeria and that victory song will certainly, most likely, continue on Sunday in Egypt.
