The Super Eagles take on Cape Verde tonight at 9pm on SuperSport

The Algrave Stadium in Faro, Portugal, will come alive this evening when the in-form Nigeria’s Super Eagles take on the Tubaroes Azuis (Blue Sharks) of Cape Verde in a friendly match.

Cape Verde is currently ranked 63rd in the world, 10 places below Nigeria, but they are now regarded as giant killers, following their qualification for the 2013 AFCON tournament at the expense of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

Tonight’s match is bound to be explosive, owing largely to the superb form of the Super Eagles who have not lost in eight matches and have also been terrific in front of goal. The coach Stephen Keshi-tutored side have scored 12 goals in their last four matches, including the trophy winning 1-1 draw against Catalonia last week.

Cape Verde have lost their opening two matches in the 2014 World Cup qualifying round with the same score margin, 1-2 to Tunisia and Sierra Leone.

Cape Verde sent a message to the football world when they played out a goalless draw with a full-strength Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugual side in May, 2010. At that time, the Blue Sharks were ranked 117th, while Portugal was 3rd on FIFA rankings.

They confirmed their arrival on the big stage when they subdued Cameroun to qualify for their first African Cup of Nations; A win, the team’s gaffer, Lucio Antunes, admitted, was a big surprise to the nation, which is just a little more than 500,000 people.

Meanwhile, Coach Stephen Keshi is expected to release the final list of 23 players that will represent Nigeria at the 29th edition of the African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The Super Eagles take on Cape Verde tonight live at 9pm (West African time) on SSHD2 / SS7N / SS10.