Nine-time African champions Nigeria will clash with reigning Olympic champions Canada in two friendly matches that will hold over three days in the cities of Vancouver and Victoria City.

Ademola Olajire, a spokesperson for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said both matches would take place Friday (Vancouver) and Monday (Victoria City).

He said it was in preparation for the matches that two players – defenders Onome Ebi and Glory Ogbonna — were among the team’s contingent, which left Nigeria on Tuesday night.

Canada’s women’s national team are the reigning Olympic champions, having won the gold medal at the Olympic Women’s Football Tournament in Tokyo in August 2021.

They had beaten Sweden on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw after regulation and extra time in the gold medal match.

On their part, the Super Falcons have won the African title nine times and recently qualified for the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals to be held in Morocco in July.

This was after a 3-0 aggregate win over Cote d’Ivoire in February.

Olajire said NFF had organised this two-match tour against the Olympic champions as part of the Super Falcons’ preparations for the 12th Women’s AFCON in Morocco.

After many years, Friday’s clash at the BC Place in Vancouver is another date for both teams.

They drew 3-3 at Sweden’s 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals.

Both will again clash at the Centennial Stadium in Victoria City on Monday.

The two matches will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Nigeria time (3:30 a.m. Vancouver time) on Saturday and Monday.

(NAN)