Posted by Reuters on
World Cup rivals Angola and Nigeria have arranged last-minute warm-up matches for later this month as they prepare for a showdown in the qualifying campaign for Germany.
JOHANNESBURG, Aug 5 (Reuters) - World Cup rivals Angola and Nigeria have arranged last-minute warm-up matches for later this month as they prepare for a showdown in the qualifying campaign for Germany.
Both sides have 15 points at the top of Group Four but Angola have better results in their head to head confrontations and would qualify for the 2006 finals by winning their last two matches, irrespective of Nigeria's remaining results.
Angola's next qualifier is at home to Gabon in Luanda on September 4 and they have organised a friendly against the Cape Verde Islands in Lisbon on August 17 as preparation.
Nigeria, who play Algeria in Oran in their September 4 qualifier, travel to Libya on August 17 for their warm-up.
It will be their first match since the sacking of coach Christian Chukwu, whose replacement has yet to be confirmed.
Angola will meet Zimbabwe in the semi-finals of the Cosafa Castle Cup final tournament in Mmabatho, South Africa on August 13. If the defending champions win, they will play either South Africa or Zambia in the final the following day.