In what looks like a re-match of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria and Burkina Faso will go head-to-head in Tuesday's international friendly but this time in Kaduna and not in Johannesburg.
Nigeria's Super Eagles met the Stallions of Burkina Faso twice at the Afcon including the championship game which Sunday Mba's goal decided at the Soccer City in Johannesburg seven months ago.
Both teams come into this tune-up with their eyes on the 2014 Fifa World Cup playoffs. The African champions booked their place among the 10 teams for the World Cup playoffs with a 2-0 win over Malawi while Burkina Faso edged Gabon via a Prejuce Nakoulma goal to reach the final round of qualifiers as well.
Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi has excused the duo of John Obi Mikel and Liverpool man, Victor Moses for the clash against the Burkinabes at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna this Tuesday.
Mikel is out following a slight knock on his calf while Moses returns to England to adjust to life at his new club, Liverpool, which he joined on loan from Chelsea on transfer deadline-day.
Nigeria would still have the like of Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Ogenyi Onazi, Godfrey Oboabona, Efe Ambrose, Brown Ideye, Uche Nwofor and Elderson Echiejile among others.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through its general secretary, Musa Amadu, has stated that the match is part of preparation for World Cup playoffs billed for October and November.
“The Nigeria Football Federation has arranged the match against Burkina Faso to prepare the Super Eagles for the final elimination round, which comes up in October and November. We expect to play our first leg away and then play the return at home," stated Amadu.
Paul Put will surely have some of his strongest squad members like Jonathan Pitroipa, Charles Kabore, Nakoulma, Bakary Kone and Issiaka Ouedraogo for this contest.
Though it is a friendly match, it could turn out to be the third of five instalments that could hold between both teams this year should they be drawn to face each other in the playoffs of the 2014 World Cup.
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