Madagascar are flaunting memories of a stunning 2-0 victory that they achieved over Nigeria during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to boost their morale ahead of Friday’s clash with the Super Eagles at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Sports247 reports that the scenario and venue are both different, but The Barea have that wonderful date of July 30th, 2019 in Egypt to hold onto as an inkling of their ability to pull off yet another shock this Friday.
That would surely be a huge upset, as Nigeria have head-to-head advantage against their visitors from Antananarivo, who they have defeated three times, drawn with only once and lost just that one game to them at AFCON 2019.
Their only draw was away and the first game between both sides on October 7th, 2000 – following which Nigeria won in various qualifiers on June 4, 2001; September 5, 2010; and September 4, 2011 – with U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar hosting one of those games.
A preview by the communicatuons department of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) noted in part, “Friday’s clash with The Barea will stir memories of interesting past encounters between the two countries at senior level.
“At this same stage, 16 years ago (commencement of an AFCON qualification race), the Super Eagles defeated The Barea 2-0 in Calabar on 5th September 2010. A year later, in the reverse fixture in Antananarivo, the Eagles won by the same margin.
“However, on the last day of June 2019, the Barea caused one of the biggest upsets in AFCON history by defeating Nigeria 2-0 in a group phase match in Alexandria (but) the Eagles had already qualified for the Round of 16 before that encounter.
“On Friday, both teams will battle for three crucial points at the beginning of another AFCON ticket race, with the Barea sounding off that they are ready for battle, and arrived in Uyo three clear days ahead of the encounter.”
