Super Eagles stars Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman have promised to go all out in their upcoming international friendly against rivals Ghana.
Nigeria will once again cross paths with their West African adversaries in an exhibition game in Marrakech, Morocco, on Friday, March 22, as both teams look to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June.
The game comes exactly two years after the Black Stars got the better of Nigeria, via away goals, to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Revenge is, therefore, on the minds of the Super Eagles, who will have to find a way without their talismanic striker Victor Osimhen after the Napoli striker was ruled out of the game due to injury.
Nigeria are, however, favourites this time, having emerged from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) with a runners-up medal after reaching the final of the tournament.
Super Eagles target victory against Ghana
By contrast, Ghana will be going into Friday’s game on the back of a humiliating performance at the AFCON, where they were booted out at the group stage.
Speaking ahead of the high-profile international friendly between Nigeria and the Black Stars, Iwobi described the fixture as a rivalry that cannot be taken for granted. The Fulham midfielder further assured that he and his teammates would give 100% to beat the Black Stars.
“It’s like another rivalry against a nation that’s close to us, so we’ll give our full 100% and try and get the results we want,” Iwobi told journalist Victor Modo at the Super Eagles’ training base in Marrakesh.
Lookman also highlighted the need to build on the gains from the AFCON, insisting the Super Eagles were looking forward to affirming the high standards they set in the Ivory Coast.
“It’s an opportunity for us to once again show the level that we’re at, the level that we’ve shown at the AFCON and the level that is expected of us. We’re definitely looking forward to it,” the Atalanta forward said.
Super Eagles want to carry AFCON momentum into March friendlies
Meanwhile, Nigeria are also aiming to carry the momentum they built during the AFCON into the March international break. While the game against Ghana is considered a mammoth fixture, Finidi George’s side are also scheduled to take on Mali in another international friendly on March 26.
Iwobi noted that despite the disappointment of losing the AFCON final to hosts Ivory Coast, the squad is determined to push on and return to winning ways, starting with the upcoming friendlies against Ghana and Mali.
“Because it [the AFCON] was mid-season, we had to go straight back to our clubs, so we haven’t had much time to reflect. But we want to continue the form we had at the AFCON and hopefully push on and make things great again,” he stated.
Lookman also touched on the mood of the players in camp, saying the group remains happy and united despite having some new faces in camp. As of Thursday, over 20 players had reported to camp and trained ahead of the game against Ghana.
“Many good things happened at the AFCON, so we still have the same group and we’re still happy and together. They’re obviously some new faces but we’re really happy to be back with the team,” Lookman said.
Both Lookman and Iwobi were in great form during the AFCON and were ever-present in the Super Eagles side that made the final, where they lost 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast. Lookman also made the AFCON team of the tournament, alongside stand-in captain William Troost-Ekong and Ola Aina, as recognition for his outstanding performances in the tournament.
