By Akinwale Kasali
As the Super Eagles of Nigeria file out for their Semi Final clash against the Atlas Lions of Morocco, host of the the ongoing African Cup of Nations, AFCON, Championship, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau has dismissed fears of possible biased officiating.
Gusau quashed insinuations of possible biased officiating against the backdrop of widespread fears among Nigerian players and fans across the world that the match officials could blatantly or surreptitiously work in favour of the host nation, which is looking for a second AFCON title after its maiden gong 50 years ago.
“Last summer, we were here in Morocco, for the Women Africa Cup of Nations, and we played the host nation in the Final, even coming from two goals behind to achieve victory.
“There is nothing to fear. This is the highest level of football on the African continent, and the officials know that CAF as well as the whole world is watching, and will not do anything untoward.”
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles camp continues to radiate confidence and self-belief ahead of the encounter, as the players keep strictly and professionally to their daily schedule at the Hotel Rihab and at the training ground – Complexe Sportif Mohamed VI.
The only time Nigeria and Morocco’s senior national teams have clashed in Morocco’s administrative capital, Rabat, Nigeria dug their feet into the ground to earn a scoreless draw, win the ensuing penalty shootout and secure qualification to the 14th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cote d’Ivoire.
Date was Saturday, 28th August 1983. Two weeks earlier, in Benin City, both teams had ended the first leg match 0-0. The return leg took place in Rabat, with Coach Adegboye Onigbinde making a number of changes to the squad that featured in Benin City.
Goalkeeper, Late Peter Rufai came in for Wilfred Agbonavbare, and Kingsley Paul, Amos Edoseghe, Anthony Edward, Segun Odegbami and Sunday Daniel came in for Charles Osuji, Henry Nwosu, Rafiu Yusuf, Dehinde Akinlotan and Tarila Okorowanta.
Coach José ‘Mehdi’ Faria, the Brazilian minder of the Atlas Lions, stuck to his regular group, including goalkeeper Badou Ezzaki, Mustapha El Haddaoui, Abdelaziz Bouderbala, Mohamed Timoumi, Abdelmajid Lamriss, Mustapha El Biyaz, Noureddine Bouyahyaoui and Khaled Labied. A closely-fought battle ended 0-0, necessitating a penalty shootout.
Nigeria won 4-3 to qualify for the AFCON finals in Cote d’Ivoire, where she emerged runner-up.
As the Super Eagles file out to the turf of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Wednesday, they will remember they had never lost a match to the Lions in Rabat.
Feelers from the Atlas Lions camp reveal that the players are in trepidation of the impact that Nigerian midfielder Alexander Iwobi can have on tonight’s game.
Iwobi, who has become the Super Eagles Midfield generalissimo supplied 22 line-breaking passes in the Round of 16 game against Mozambique (which Nigeria won 4-0) and 14 against Algeria’s Desert Foxes in Saturday’s quarter final duel in Marrakech.
Nigeria won both games, scoring six goals and conceding none.
The 29-year-old, who debuted for Nigeria against the Democratic Republic of Congo in a friendly in Belgium on 8th October 2015, also supplied the assists for Nigeria’s first two goals of the competition, in the 2-1 win over Tanzania in Fés on 23rd December.
He will earn his 96th cap for the Super Eagles on Wednesday night.
SUPER EAGLES, ATLAS LIONS IN HISTORY
16 Nov 1963: Nigeria 3-0 Morocco (Olympic Gamesq: Lagos)
08 Mar 1964: Morocco 4-1 Nigeria (Olympic Gamesq: Casablanca)
26 Mar 1964: Morocco 2-1 Nigeria (Olympic Gamesq: Dakar)
21 Sep 1969: Morocco 2-1 Nigeria (FIFA WCq: Casablanca)
08 Nov 1969: Nigeria 2-0 Morocco (FIFA WCq: Ibadan)
20 Feb 1972: Nigeria 3-0 Morocco (Friendly: Lagos)
06 Mar 1976: Morocco 3-1 Nigeria (AFCON: Dire Dawa)
11 Mar 1976: Morocco 2-1 Nigeria (AFCON: Addis Ababa)
03 Apr 1976: Nigeria 3-1 Morocco (Olympic Gamesq: Lagos)
18 Apr 1976: Morocco 1-0 Nigeria (Olympic Gamesq: Tangier)
19 Mar 1980: Nigeria 1-0 Morocco (AFCON semi: Lagos)
14 Aug 1983: Nigeria 0-0 Morocco (AFCONq: Benin City)
28 Aug 1983: Morocco 0-0 Nigeria (AFCONq: Rabat) – Nigeria win 4-3 after penalties
11 Feb 1984: Nigeria 0-0 Morocco (Olympic Gamesq: Lagos)
26 Feb 1984: Morocco 0-0 Nigeria (Olympic Gamesq: Casablanca) – Morocco win 4-3 after penalties
12 Dec 1996: Morocco 2-0 Nigeria (Friendly: Casablanca)
03 Feb 2000: Nigeria 2-0 Morocco (AFCON: Lagos)
27 Jan 2004: Morocco 1-0 Nigeria (AFCON: Monastir)
25 Jan 2014: Morocco 3-4 Nigeria (CHAN: Cape Town)
04 Feb 2018: Morocco 4-0 Nigeria (CHAN Final: Casablanca)
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