Super Eagles To Play Egypt In Pre-AFCON Friendly

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on Egypt on Tuesday in a tune-up game ahead of the 2025 Nations Cup in Morocco.

The friendly match was meant to prepare both teams for their campaigns at the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals, kicking off in Morocco on Sunday.

Both teams will have the opportunity to test their new players, with Nigeria manager Eric Sékou Chelle able to field the likes of goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defender Ryan Alebiosu, midfielders Usman Muhammed, Tochukwu Nnadi and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, and forwards Paul Onuachu and Salim Fago Lawal, if he so desires.

Pharaohs’ coach Hossam Hassan will most probably weave his game plan for the friendly match and the AFCON tournament itself around Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah.

There will also be Manchester City of England’s Omar Marmoush and Al Ahly’s Mohamed El-Shenawy, Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Emam Ashour and Mahmoud Trezeguet.

There are also CAF Champions League holders Pyramids’ Mohamed Hamdy and Mostafa Fathi, and UAE-based Ibrahim Adel, as well as Mostafa Mohamed of FC Nantes in France.

Chelle is most likely to set his store by 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 will kick off at 8 pm Egypt time (7 pm Nigeria time).

As of Monday afternoon, 17 of the 28 players in Nigeria’s final list were in Cairo, with more players expected to arrive before Monday evening’s training session.

The Super Eagles will depart Cairo for the Moroccan city of Fés aboard a chartered flight on Thursday.

Nigeria’s campaign for a fourth continental crown (following triumphs in 1980, 1994 and 2013) is already themed NAIJA 4 THE WIN and kicks off on the ground on Tuesday, 23rd December, with a clash against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars.

The Eagles will then clash with Tunisia on Saturday, 27th December, before their final Group C encounter against Uganda on Tuesday, 30th December.

All of Nigeria’s group phase matches will be played at the Complexe Sportif de Fés.

Egypt will slug it out with the likes of Angola, South Africa, and Zimbabwe in Group B. Their matches will take place at the Stade d’Agadir in the city of Agadir.

The Super Eagles’ Monday training session is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. local time at the main bowl of the Cairo International Stadium.

According to the latest update from the Super Eagles’ camp, 12 additional players are expected to arrive later on Monday.

Their arrival would bring the total squad size to 23 players, giving the technical crew a full complement to prosecute Tuesday’s friendly against Egypt’s Pharaohs.