Brazil Vs Nigeria: More Than a Friendly Encounter

Most Nigeria’s major encounters with Brazil have all been at the Olympics Games and once at the U21 World Championship in 1989 in Chile, aside the friendly game in Abuja. However, it was not until the Atlanta ’96 Olympics when Nigeria came from 3-1 down to defeat a Ronaldo Delima inspired Brazil 4-3, that a football rivalry between the two countries was truely born. That is why Sunday’s encounter between the Selecao and the Super Eagles will be more than a friendly and the roll call of players billed for the match attest to it.

From the most expensive footballer in the world-Neymar to their COPA America winning captain Dani Alves, Brazil have left no one in doubt they are not in Singapore for a tea party.

The game is coming 23 years and a couple of months after Nigeria spectacularly ejected Brazil from the Centennial Olympic Games men’s football tournament in Atlanta, Georgia at the semi final stage. It is also the last and icing on the cake of a two-match schedule for the five-time world champions in Singapore, which begins with a clash with the Teranga Lions of Senegal on Thursday.

In spite of the array of stars at their disposal, Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazil international defender Marquinhos has warned his side that they must work hard if they were to defeat Nigeria in Singapore on Sunday.

It will be a very difficult task for Nigeria to defeat Brazil at the moment. But the most important thing for Nigeria is the quality of the opposition. They will have a lot to learn from a game of this stature.