An explanation on why the senior national team of England approached Nigeria for a friendly game sometimes around next year as part of their preparations for the World Cup in Russia has been unravelled by Owngoalnigeria.com editorial team.
History shows that England have faced five African countries in the lasyt seven World Cup tournaments since they faced Morocco in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, and there are possibilities of drawing another African nation this time around as they are in Pot 2, while African nations are mostly going to be in Pot 3 and 4 during the draws in December.
England have also not fair too well against African nations at the World Cup as they have only two wins from five games against African nations, and both wins came against Tunisia in the 1990 and 1998 World Cup, where they beat the North Africans 1-0 and 2-0 respectively.
Since then they have failed to pick up wins against Nigeria ( 0-0 in 2002), Algeria (0-0 in 2010), and they recorded same scoreline against Egypt at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Furthermore England are desperate to face a different opponent especially one from Africa in their build up to the World Cup as it will help them have a different feel than most of their games, where they have played against either European or South America teams.
Osas Mahawi
