At 5pm Nigerian time today, Tuesday September 7, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will file out against the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde in a Matchday 2 World Cup qualification encounter at the Estadio Municipal Aderito Esna in Mindelo, Cape Verde.
The Super Eagles opened their qualification race with a 2-0 win over Liberia last Friday in Lagos courtesy of a Kelechi Iheanacho brace, while Cape Verde went to Central African Republic to pick a 1-1 draw so they seat first and second on the Group C table.
Here are five facts you can use from the last time the two countries met each other…
1. Today’s game will be the first official competitive match between Nigeria and Cape Verde. The first and last time they met on January 9, 2013 was a friendly international preparatory to the 2013 AFCON in South Africa. The game ended 0-0 but a month later the Super Eagles emerged African champions while Cape Verde were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Ghana.
2. In the starting line-up for Nigeria on that day were Austin Ejide, Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echiejile, Godfrey Oboabona, Joseph Yobo, Obi Mikel, Fengor Ogude, Ogenyi Onazi, Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa and Emmanuel Emenike.
Five players were issued yellow cards namely Ambrose (19′); Yobo (34′); Echiejile (37′); Moses (45′) and Musa (60′).
3. Seven players were substituted on with Vincent Enyeama (on for Ejide); Kenneth Omeruo (on for Ambrose); Juwon Oshaniwa (on for Echiejile); Nosa Igiebor (on for Ogude); Nwankwo Obiora (on for Onazi); Brown Ideye (on for Moses) and Kalu Uche (on for Emenike).
Unused substitutes were goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egweke, Reuben Gabriel, Sunday Mba and Ejike Uzoenyi.
4. Of the squad on the night, only Ahmed Musa and Kenneth Omeruo are in this current team. Musa is expected to captain today, while Omeruo should start in the absence of first-choice central defensive pair Willaim Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun.
5. Joseph Yobo, who wore the captain’s armband last time out will be on the bench today as part of the Super Eagles coaching crew. He holds the joint record for the most-capped player in Nigeria football history with 101 caps with Vincent Enyeama, but captain Musa will close down on that record with 99 caps already before today.
