AFCON Warm-Up: Nigeria, Egypt Lock Horns In Cairo

Three-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions Nigeria are set to face seven-time winners Egypt in a friendly match this evening in Cairo, Egypt. The encounter at the Cairo Stadium will serve as a crucial preparatory fixture for both nations ahead of the 35th AFCON finals, which commence in Morocco on Sunday.

Nigeria’s manager, Eric Sékou Chelle, has the option to trial several new faces, including goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defender Ryan Alebiosu, midfielders Usman Muhammed, Tochukwu Nnadi, and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, as well as forwards Paul Onuachu and Salim Fago Lawal.

For Egypt, coach Hossam Hassan, an AFCON legend who scored seven goals when Egypt won the 1998 tournament, will likely build his strategy around Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. Despite a significant trophy cabinet, Salah is still seeking his first AFCON title. The Pharaohs’ squad also features Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush, Al Ahly’s Mohamed El-Shenawy, Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Emam Ashour, and Mahmoud Trezeguet. Other notable players include Pyramids’ Mohamed Hamdy and Mostafa Fathi, UAE-based Ibrahim Adel, and FC Nantes’ Mostafa Mohamed.

Chelle is expected to rely on a core group of players, including goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, and Zaidu Sanusi, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, and Alex Iwobi, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, and Ademola Lookman.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm Egypt time (7 pm Nigeria time). As of Monday afternoon, 17 of Nigeria’s 28-man squad had arrived in Cairo, with more expected before Monday evening’s training session.

The Super Eagles will depart Cairo for Fés, Morocco, on Thursday via a chartered flight. Nigeria’s quest for a fourth continental title, following triumphs in 1980, 1994, and 2013, is themed “NAIJA 4 THE WIN.” Their AFCON campaign begins on Tuesday, 23rd December, against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars, a repeat of the opening match of the 1980 finals, which Nigeria hosted and won. They will then play 2004 hosts and winners Tunisia on Saturday, 27th December, before their final Group C fixture against Uganda’s Cranes on Tuesday, 30th December. All of Nigeria’s group stage matches will be held at the Complexe Sportif de Fés.

The Pharaohs, the only nation to achieve three consecutive AFCON triumphs (2006-2010), are in Group B alongside 1996 hosts and winners South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe. Their group matches will take place at the Stade d’Agadir in Agadir.