Nigeria plan Algeria or Morocco warm-up for Egypt double header

Eagles midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim

Nigeria are to open talks with Morocco, Tunisia or Algeria for a friendly ahead of their crunch two-legged AFCON qualifier against Egypt in March, NFF president Amaju Pinnick has told AfricanFootball.com

Nigeria take on Egypt in March in a double header, which could well determine the fate of the Super Eagles for Gabon 2017.

Egypt lead the AFCON qualifying group with six points from two matches, two points more than second-placed Nigeria with the overall group winners guaranteed automatic qualification to 2017 AFCON.

Pinnick said the NFF are determined to ensure that the Eagles are in the right frame of mind technically and mentally against the record seven-time African champions.

"I have asked them to begin to shop for a friendly game against Morocco, Tunisia or Algeria in the next available FIFA window," he told AfricanFootball.com

"That tells you how important the next AFCON qualifiers are to us. We want to make sure that the Eagles are properly prepared and have an idea of how the North Africans play.

"But in any case, coach Sunday Oliseh has already started studying the tapes of the Egyptians and he is preparing the game plans."