Nigeria and Cameroon have a rich history of football rivalry and next month another chapter will be added to the tome when the two clash in a double header, 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria host the African Champions in the first leg of the tie, on September 1 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
Three days later the Stade Omnisports Ahmadou-Ahidjo, Yaounde lights up in the reverse fixture.
Currently, the Super Eagles top group B and need all three points in Uyo to put their qualification for next year’s tournament beyond doubt.
However, it is not expected to be all plain sailing and the Indomitable Lions want to make sure they spoil the party, and drag the battle way beyond a September conclusion.
Over the years, clashes between the senior national teams of both countries have both been entertaining and controversial.
Here we basically look at facts of previous matches ahead of the first-leg in Uyo:
Head to Head stats between Nigeria and Cameroon:
Nigeria have won 10 times against Cameroon. And four of those have come in competitive meetings between the two.
On the other hand, Cameroon have handed Nigerian major Ls in four competitive matches including the African Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers.
Of the twenty meeting between Nigeria and Cameroon, six of those encounters have ended in a share of the spoils.
As far as the World Cup qualifiers are concerned, Nigeria and Cameroon have only previously met four times (home and away).
The Eagles have a superior head to head in that regards winning two, losing one and drawing one.
That history began with the qualifiers for the 1970 and 1990 world Cup – the Indomitable Lions picking the ticket for the latter.
For the third time, Nigeria will host the first leg of a double header World Cup qualifier against their Central African opponent.
If history should count for anything, the Super Eagles may very well be on their way to Russia based on the game record.
1970 World Cup Qualifier
Nigeria 1-1 Cameroon, Cameroon 2-3 Nigeria.
1990 World Cup Qualifier
Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon, Cameroon 1-0 Nigeria.
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