The only time Nigeria and Morocco senior national teams have clashed in Morocco’s administrative capital, Rabat, the Super Eagles dug their feet into the ground to earn a scoreless draw, win the ensuing penalty shootout and secure qualification to the 14th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cote d’Ivoire.
Date was Saturday, 28th August 1983. Two weeks earlier, in Benin City, both teams had ended the first leg match 0-0. The return leg took place in Rabat, with Coach Adegboye Onigbinde making a number of changes to the squad that featured in Benin City.
Goalkeeper Peter Rufai came in for Wilfred Agbonavbare, and Kingsley Paul, Amos Edoseghe, Anthony Edward, Wole Odegbami and Sunday Daniel came in for Charles Osuji, Henry Nwosu, Rafiu Yusuf, Dehinde Akinlotan and Tarila Okorowanta.
Coach José ‘Mehdi’ Faria, the Brazilian minder of the Atlas Lions, stuck to his regular group, including goalkeeper Badou Ezzaki, Mustapha El Haddaoui, Abdelaziz Bouderbala, Mohamed Timoumi, Abdelmajid Lamriss, Mustapha El Biyaz, Noureddine Bouyahyaoui and Khaled Labied.
A closely-fought battle ended 0-0, necessitating a penalty shootout.
Nigeria won 4-3 to qualify for the AFCON finals in Cote d’Ivoire, where they emerged runners-up.
As the Super Eagles file out to the turf of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium Wednesday night, they will remember they had never lost a match to the Lions in Rabat.
