International friendlies: Nigeria to face Ghana, Mali in March 

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the Super Eagles squad for this month’s highly anticipated friendly matches against Ghana’s Black Stars and Mali’s Les Aigles.

This comes after the cancellation of planned encounters with Argentina and El Salvador due to logistics challenges.

Set to reignite long-standing rivalries, these games are scheduled to be held in Marrakech, Morocco, with the clash against Ghana set for Friday, March 22nd, followed by the match against Mali on Tuesday, March 26th.

The impending showdown with Ghana is of particular significance as it revives a historic 73-year-old rivalry between the two West African football powerhouses. Their last encounter in March 2022 during a FIFA World Cup play-off ended in a closely contested draw, setting the stage for another intense showdown.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s fixture against Mali promises an intriguing matchup between two teams affectionately dubbed the ‘Eagles.’ While their previous friendly encounter in 2016 concluded in a stalemate, Mali seeks redemption for their loss to the Super Eagles in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.

The Super Eagles squad for these games will feature a blend of seasoned veterans and emerging talents, including notable names such as Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Osimhen, and Alex Iwobi. Additionally, the return of key players like Jamilu Collins and Tyronne Ebuehi, coupled with the inclusion of promising newcomers Gabriel Osho and Benjamin Taminu, adds depth to the lineup.

However, it’s worth noting that the Super Eagles are currently without a head coach following the expiration of Jose Peseiro’s contract on February 29th.