The Eagles of Mali on Tuesday at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao thrashed the Green Falcons of Saudi Arabia 3-1 in an International Friendly match where Nigeria’s Super Eagles managed a 2-2 draw score line.
The Malians were 2-0 up at half time as Moussa Doubia Al-Adalah FC of Saudi left winger scored the first goal off M. Camara assist in the 14th minute and Hamari Troare who plays at the right back for Real Sociedad scored the second goal for Mali in the 42nd minute.
32 year old winger for Al-Hilal, Salem Aldawsari got an assist from Al-Khaibari to score Saudi’s only goal in the 58th minute.
Auxerre player, Lassine Sinayoko went smoking like a Kafachan train in Southern Kaduna of Nigeria so unstoppable after the telegraphic pass from Diarra to score Mali’s third goal in the 71st minute.
The only time Mali and Saudi Arabia met was on 25th of September 2019 when both played 1-1 draw.
Saudi played 2-2 with Nigeria 13th October; played 1-1 with Korea on 12th September; lost 1-3 to Costa Rica on 8th September and Bolivia beat her 2-1 on 28th March.
Mali on the same 13th October beat the Ugandan Cranes 1-0; played goalless with Elephants of Ivory Coast on 12th of September and in two ACN encounters beat South Sudan 4-0 on 8th September and subdued Congo 2-0 on 18th of June.
Ranked 49 in the world as against 40 of Nigeria, Mali has never been to the world cup but had 13 appearances at AFCON where her best was being Runners up in 1972 and she also had 3 appearances at African Nations Cup ANC with being finalists twice in 2016 and 2020.
In the world cup qualifiers, the Green Falcons, so named because of their peculiar green shirts like the Super Eagles, will on 15th November 2023 meet the winner of the Cambodia/Pakistan clash; and on 20th November 2023 play against Jordan.
The Green Falcons, ranked 57 in world football, had made 6 appearances at the world cup finals with their best result being a round of 16 stages in 1994. The team was Asian Champions thrice in 1984; 1988 and 1996.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria interestingly also had 6 appearances at the world cup finals with their best results being four times at the round of 16 stages in same 1994; 1998 and 2014. Nigeria was African Champions thrice in 1980; 1994 and 2013.
Nigerians had been complaining of low performance against the Super Eagles in the last two friendlies played in Portugal wondering why her Goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho who has been the leaking point was not substituted against Mozambique which Nigeria struggled to win 3-2 their first victory in the last five friendly matches.
Nigeria has the hurdles to the road of the next world cup in Group C with Benin Republic; Lesotho; Rwanda and South Africa. Soccer pundits believe that except the unforeseen happens, no team can stop Nigeria from their 7th appearance at the world cup.
STORY BY: Eniola Olatunji
