Taribo lauds NFF over Algeria friendly

FORMER Nigeria international. Taribo West, has commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for including Algeria as Super Eagles’ opponents in the two friendlies scheduled to take place this month in Austria.

Nigeria face Algeria on October 9 and Tunisia four days later also in Austria.

The former Enugu Rangers defender, noted that the quality Algeria possess at the moment as African champions will be of great help to the Super Eagles when both sides clash at the Jacques Lemans Arena (St. Veit an der Glan).

The former Inter Milan player stated that playing against Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez would also boost the standard of Nigeria’s youngsters listed for the friendly.

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“Algeria is a huge football power, with a lot of great players that I had the pleasure of knowing and who are currently in big clubs in Europe like the one playing in Manchester City there …

“Exactly! He [Mahrez] is a great player, he is in good form and I hope that against Nigeria, we will see him even more efficient to enjoy his technique.

“I consider him ONE of the best players in the world, that’s why I’m very happy with the organization of this match,” the Atlanta ’96 Olympic gold medallist told Le Buteur.

It will be recalled that Mahrez’ free kick condemned the Super Eagles to a 1-2 defeat in the semi-final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, while Algeria went on to lift the trophy at the expense of Senegal.

Gernot Rohr’s men are using the friendlies to tune up ahead of their AFCON qualifier next month against Sierra Leone.