This was just before a quick-fire double Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying series with Sierra Leone, which will now hold in November.
Prior to the COVID-19 lockdown, the Super Eagles had won their last three games out of five played between September 22 and November 19 in 2019.
They beat Togo (2-0), Benin (2-1) and Lesotho (4-2) in their AFCON qualifying matches.
Nigeria also recorded an impressive 1-1 draw against Brazil in an international friendly match but lost 4-1 away to Togo also in the AFCON qualifiers.
Algeria, on the other hand, have won three of their last five matches played between Oct. 10 and Nov. 18, 2019.
They thrashed Zambia (5-0), Colombia (3-0) and Botswana (1-0), with a 1-1 draw against Congo DR and a 3-0 defeat away to Morocco in the AFCON qualifiers.
However, it was the Desert Foxes who had the upper hand in their last encounter.
Both teams were in the same qualifying pool for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with the Eagles trouncing the Fennecs 3-1 in Uyo before a 1-1 draw in Constantine.
The two teams were again at each other’s jugular in the semi-finals of last year’s AFCON in Egypt.
The Fennecs edged it 2-1 from a free-kick just outside the box at the death, and then went on to defeat Senegal in the final to clinch their second continental title.
According to NAN, encounters between both African football giants have always been entertaining and unpredictable, since the first time they met in 1973 at the then All-Africa Games in Lagos.
The duel ended 2-2, but there have been 18 matches between both sides since then.
It is pertinent to note that both teams qualified for the World Cup for the first time at the expense of each other.
Algeria qualified for her first-ever World Cup appearance at Spain ‘82 by beating Nigeria in the final rounds.
Nigeria returned the favour in 1993 on a cold windy night in Constantine to pick a ticket for USA ‘94.
Ironically, Nigeria defeated Algeria 3-0 to win her first-ever AFCON title in 1980 on home soil.
Ten years later, it was pay-back time as Algeria defeated Nigeria 1-0 to win her first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1990 on home soil too.
In total, 19 matches have been played between the two teams over the years with Nigeria slightly edging out Algeria on a number of wins.
The Eagles have won nine games, drawn three and lost seven of those.
The Super Eagles, now ranked 29th in the world and third in Africa, will engage the Desert Foxes, who are 35th and fourth in Africa in the rankings.
Coach Gernot Rohr made do without three of his initial invitees, with Turkey-based midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo suffering a knock on Sunday.
It followed an earlier injury to Wilfred Ndidi and the permission granted Italy-based forward Victor Osimhen to sit out the matches.
Genk of Belgium’s Paul Onuachu was handed a late call-up and will replace Osimhen.
Tyronne Ebuehi who joined Dutch club FC Twente on loan from Benfica of Portugal takes the place of Ndidi in the squad.
Apart from these, such regular players as team captain Ahmed Musa (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England), Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain) and a host of others were in the squad for the clash.
However, players like Odion Ighalo who has retired and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi who was faulted for the stunning Mahrez winner were not included in the list.
Interestingly, three new players — CSKA Moscow’s forward Chidera Ejuke, ex-Golden Eaglets captain and midfielder Samson Tijani and goalkeeper Tobias Lawal — were included in the list.
