The home based Super Eagles of Nigeria have reached the final of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) for the first time.
The final will however be a tough one as the opponents are no pushovers.
Nigeria will come up against Morocco, the host nation.
CHAN is a biennial football tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
This is the fifth edition.
Unlike the African Cup of Nations, the competing national teams must be composed of players playing in their domestic league.
For example, a Nigerian player is only eligible to play for the Nigerian national team if he is playing for a Nigerian club.
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Past encounters between Nigeria and Morocco have been evenly shared wins at 8 apiece.
While these two power houses of African football have won the more prestigious African Cup of Nations, AFCON, they have never won CHAN.
The best Nigeria finished in CHAN was third place in 2014.
Morocco’s highest ever was the quarter final in 2014.
Both teams did not have an easy path to the final.
While the Moroccan team had a fairly easy path in the group stage and quarter final, they had it very tough in the semi final when they played against Libya.
The game was 1-1 until extra time when the host nation scored two goals in the first and second half respectively to put the game to bed at 3-1.
Nigeria finished top of group C easily but had a breathtaking quarter final with Angola.
Angola scored first and almost won the game.
Anthony Okpotu equalized in injury time for Coach Yusuf Salisu’s men making it 1-1.
It looked like a game destined for penalty shootout until Gabriel Okechukwu made it 2-1 in favour of the home based Eagles.
Nigeria faced Sudan, another tough team in the Semi final.
An early goal by Okechukwu Gabriel was enough to secure a spot in the final.
The match was not without its intrigues as a Nigerian and Sudanese player were sent off.
Unfortunately due to the intensity of that game, the Super Eagles Captain Ikechukwu Ezenwa got injured.
It has been confirmed by the coach, Salisu Yusuf, that he would not be available for the final on Sunday.
Dele Ajiboye, who replaced Ezenwa made brilliant saves against Sudan to keep Nigeria in the competition.
Football pundits say he is up to the task based on his performance that day.
However, the Eagles should watch out for Ayoub El-Kaabi of Morocco who scored a hat-trick in the group stage against Guinea.
The 24 year-old striker is the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.
The winner of this encounter at the Stade Mohamed V Stadium, Casablanca, will be the first in Africa to win both AFCON and CHAN.
