Nigeria vs Mali friendly match full time result and statistics.
The Nigerian national football team, also known as the Super Eagles, concluded the March 2024 international break on a disappointing note, experiencing a 2-0 defeat against Mali in a friendly match held in Morocco.
Despite being ranked 19 places above Mali in FIFA’s latest standings, the Super Eagles faltered in front of a spirited crowd of Malian supporters in Marrakesh, marking an abrupt end to the initial optimism surrounding Finidi George‘s interim coaching tenure.
Mali’s victory was well-deserved, with Atalanta striker El Bilal Toure opening the scoring in the first half following a costly error by the Nigerian defense. The win was sealed by Kamory Doumbia with just three minutes left of regular time.
Prior to this defeat, Nigeria had secured a positive result against Ghana, winning 2-1, providing hope for George and the team. However, the loss to Mali highlighted areas of concern as they prepare to resume World Cup qualifying matches in June.
The match saw Moses Simon sustain an injury after colliding with Mali goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa, forcing him to be substituted off the field. Despite Nigeria’s efforts, they struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers missing a crucial opportunity to equalize.
Nigeria vs Mali friendly match analysis.
In terms of statistics, Mali dominated with seven shots compared to Nigeria’s two, and held 58% possession throughout the game.
This encounter marked the 12th meeting between the two nations, with Nigeria holding the head-to-head advantage, winning six matches compared to Mali’s three. Mali’s previous win over Nigeria dated back to 1975.
The match kicked off at 9 p.m. local time in Marrakesh, Morocco, with viewers across different time zones able to tune in to the game. However, the match was not widely available for live broadcast in major English-speaking territories.
Finidi George faced challenges with injuries to key players including Victor Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, and others, leading to rotations in the starting lineup. Despite efforts to field a competitive team, Nigeria was unable to overcome Mali’s resilience on the field.
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