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Nigeria’s national team, Super Eagles have hypothetically missed out on an opportunity of clashing with Manchester United of England star, Cristiano Ronaldo at this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Megasportsarena.com reports that this is due to the draw on Friday that placed the Eagles’ conquerors, Ghana’s Black Stars against Ronaldo’s Portugal in the same group at the 2022 Mundial.
It could have been an iconic clash for the Eagles had they gone into the hat and ended up getting Ronaldo’s Portugal as one of their first round pool opponents, just as it happened to Ghana on the first day of April.
While Liverpool of England attacker, Sadio Mane will seek victory with Senegal against The Netherlands, Thomas Partey’s Ghana face Ronaldo’s Portugal and Uruguay.
Tunisia, Morocco, and Cameroon, who complete Africa’s five representatives for the November 21 to December 18 global showpiece, have games against defending champions France, Belgium and Brazil respectively.
Set for a second straight appearance at the World Cup, Senegal drew the Netherlands in Group A, which also features tournament hosts Qatar and South American outfit Ecuador.
The Teranga Lions, who beat Mohamed Salah’s Egypt to win the Africa Cup of Nations finals and again edged The Pharaohs to qualify for the World Cup, will open their campaign against the Netherlands.
The Senegalese will then take on hosts Qatar and South America’s Ecuador, but Aliou Cisse’s fold have no previous clashes with any of the three teams at the World Cup.
In Group H, Ghana, who beat arch-rivals Nigeria on the away goals rule to secure a Qatar ticket, are set to come up against Portugal, Uruguay, and South Korea, having previously faced two of the three teams at the World Cup.
At South Africa 2010, Uruguay knocked out the Black Stars on penalties to reach the semi-finals, after Luis Suarez denied Ghana a possible match-winner with a handball just seconds to end extra-time.
While Ghana’s last match at the Mundial was a 2-1 loss to Portugal at Brazil 2014, both teams are set to face off in their 2022 tournament opener, before the Black Stars go on to play South Korea and subsequently Uruguay.
Cameroon, the only other African side to have ever reached the quarter-final of the World Cup aside from Ghana and Senegal, made Group G which also contains five-time champions Brazil and the European duo of Switzerland and Serbia.
The Indomitable Lions, who stunned Algeria to qualify for the tournament, first face Switzerland, before taking on Serbia and lastly Brazil.
For their sixth appearance at the World Cup, Morocco have been set up against Belgium, Canada, and Croatia in Group F after beating Congo DR to secure a spot in Qatar.
The Atlas Lions’ first opposition will be 2018 finalists Croatia, with their second and third games set to come up against Belgium and Canada in that order.
Tunisia, who stopped debut-seeking Mali from qualifying, are billed for an opening game against Denmark in Group D, before a match against either Peru, Australia or the United Arab Emirates ahead of a final fixture against defending champions France.
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