The two sides have already met at the group stage playing out a dour goalless draw -even though both sides were tentative and played safe so as to get into the semifinals.
Saturday’s final will be different because there is the added incentive of being crowned African champions and bragging rights before the next event in four years’ time.
Match background
The last time Nigeria and Algeria met in a major African final at full international level was in another final-the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Algeria.
Cherif Oudjani scored the only goal as Algeria avenged their 3-0 loss to Nigeria in the final of the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations final in Lagos.
Flash back- 1990 Africa Cup of Nations final
Algeria 1 (Cherif Oudjani) Nigeria 0
Line ups:
Algeria- Cherif Si El Ouazani,Djamel Menad,Mas Ait-Abderrahamane,Ali Benhalima,Antar,Osmani,Abdelhamid,Serrar,Fodil,Megharia,Rabah Madjer,Djamel Amani,Moussa Saib,Cherif Oudjani
Game one action that ended in a 0-0 draw
Nigeria:- Uche Okechukwu,Thompson Oliha,Rashidi Yekini,Herbert Anijekwu ,Alloy Uzoma Agu,Friday Elahor,Ayo Ogunlana,Isaac Semitoje,Andrew Uwe,Ademola Adesina,Moses Kpakor
Saturday’s game will be another clash of African football giants who will look to be the best at this level and go into the Rio 2016 Olympics as African champions.
Nigeria started the tournament with a nervy 3-2 win over Mali before two successive draws- a 2-2 draw against Egypt was followed by a goalless draw against Algeria.
The ‘Dream Team finished second behind Algeria who’s 2-0 win over Mali meant the topped th group via goals difference head of Nigeria after being level on points after the end of the group stage.
Algeria dispatched South Africa 2-0 in the semifinal while Nigeria rode her luck for majority of the game against hosts Senegal before finally securing a 1-0 win courtesy an Oghenekaro Etebo penalty in the latter stages of the game to set up the final clash.
Road to the final
Nigeria
Group stage
Mali 2 Nigeria 3
Nigeria 2 Egypt 2
Algeria 0 Nigeria 0
Semifinal
Nigeria 1 Senegal 0
Algeria
Egypt 1 Algeria 1
Algeria 2 Mali 0
Nigeria 0 Algeria 0
Semifinal
Algeria 2 South Africa 0
Team news
Algerian don’t have injury problems going into the game but Nigeria are still sweating over the fitness of Taiwo Awoniyi. The striker didn't play in the semifinal win over Senegal. He trained on Friday and will have a late fitness test to see if he can take any art in the game.
Stanley Dimgba participated in some routines at training on Saturday but is still ruled out for the final. Nigeria will also welcome back captain Azubuike Okechukwu.
The midfielder missed the 1-0 win over Senegal in the semifinal due to accumulated cards which will gladden coach Samson Siasia as the Yeni Malatyaspor midfielder is one of his most trusted players.
Players to watch
Algeria
Zinedine Ferhat: The USM Alger man is considered one of the new breed Algerian footballers expected to make the step up to the full national side in the not-too distant future.
Ferhat has been immense in Les Fennecs run to the final chipping in with a goal and some swash buckling displays to put him in contention for the player of the tournament.
He will definitely be the first on Coach Schürmann’s list as Algeria confront Nigeria on Saturday hoping to win the Under-23 championship for the first time.
Nigeria
Emmanuel Daniel: Nigeria’s number one between the sticks who has continued to impress as the tournament progressed after initial struggles.
Daniel has been immense for Nigeria and is part of the reasons and the ‘Dream Team’ is in the final with spectacular saves against Algeria and then Senegal.
The last man in the line of the Nigerian defence that has Segun Oduduwa and Chizoba Amaefule in the middle and Ndifreke Effiong and Sincere Seth from the left and right channels.
What they said:
“The final will never be the same (like the meeting at the group phase). It is a different game and we will have a different philosophy because it is an important game for the two coaches.
We will focus on our strategy. Every coach would like to go offensive but the basic is defence. When you are building a house, you need a strong foundation to support it.
The difference will be the goals scored and once you have an opportunity, you have to score.” Pierre-Andre Schurman, Algeria coach.
“We're very happy to be in the final. It has been a long journey with some ups and downs but it feels good to be in the final. We know our opponents (Algeria) very well after playing them (at the group phase) and seeing their matches.
“The objective was to qualify for the Olympics which we achieved against Senegal. Now, we've set another objective, which is to win because we want to win the tournament for our people back home in Nigeria.
The players worked hard to get to Rio de Janeiro because they want to make the country proud.” Samson Siasia, Nigeria coach.
Teams
Nigeria
Goalkeepers:Emmanuel Daniel, Yusuf Mohammed, Emmanuel Iwu
Defenders: Segun Oduduwa, Sincere Seth, Chukwuebuka Iroha, Amaefule Chizoba, Zaharadeen Bello
Midfielders: Azubuike Okechukwu, Stanley Dimgba, Bature Yaro, Seun Olulayo, Ndifreke Effiong, Tiongoli Tonbara, Usman Mohammed
Attackers: Taiwo Awoniyi, Junior Ajayi, Godspower Enefiok, Oghenekaro Etebo, Victor Osimhen, Kufre Ebong
Algeria
Goalkeepers: Abdelkadir Salhi, Farid Chaal, Oussama Methazem
Defenders: Ayoub Abdellaoui, Houari Ferhani, Miloud Rebiai, Mohamed Reda Halaimia, Nor El Islem Salah, Redouane Cherifi,Ryad Kamar Eddine Keniche
Midfielders: Abdelraouf Benguit, Ahmed Gagaa, Mohammed Benkhemassa, Zakaria Draoui
Attackers: Abdelhakim Amokrane, Abderrahmane Meziane Ben Taharm, Khalil Semahi, Oussama Chita, Oussama Darfalou, Zakarya Haddouche, Zinedine Ferhat
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