| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
NIGERIA EnyeamaTaiwo, Yobo, Ambrose, Okonkwo Obasi, Joel Obi, Ayila, K Uche I Uche, Ideye | ZAMBIA Mweene Kasonde, Musonda, Sunzu, N Mulenga Kalaba, C Mulenga, F Katongo, C Katongo, Mbesuma, Chamanga |
Coach Stephen Keshi has been brought in to help return the Super Eagles to the pinnacle of African football after failing to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations under former handler, Samson Siasia.
The Chipolopolo will use this game as a warm up for January’s Afcon, where they will lead the challenge for southern Africa in the competition.
It was the Eagles that denied the Chipolopolo their first ever Afcon win in 1994 when Emmanuel Amuneke scored a brace to cancel Elijah Tana’s opening goal in that memorable final in Rades, Tunisia.
The Nigerians also saw off the Zambians at the quarter-final stage of the 2010 Afcon in Angola courtesy of penalties when regulation time ended goalless.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Zambia have re-signed coach Herve Renard, who took them to the quarter-finals of the 2010 Afcon.
- New Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi was the captain of the team when they defeated Zambia to win the 1994 Afcon. He was serving a suspension for the final game and had vice-captain Austin Eguavoen lift the trophy with him.
- Zambia have been drawn in Group A of the 2012 Afcon along with co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Senegal.
- Nigeria will be without a competitive game until mid-2012 when they will play against Rwanda and Malawi in the Afcon 2013 and World Cup 2014 qualifiers.
Prediction
It will be a close game for both sides in the city of Kaduna and knowing how keenly contested their last encounter at the Afcon 2010 was, this will probably end in a draw.
Nigeria 1-1 Zambia
