Tonight at the Cairo Stadium, Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face off against Egypt’s Pharaohs in a high-profile friendly aimed at fine-tuning both teams ahead of the upcoming 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals starting this Sunday in Morocco.
With a rich history in the tournament—Nigeria having clinched the title three times and Egypt boasting seven championships—this clash is set to be a highly competitive affair. Nigeria’s coach, Eric Sékou Chelle, has the opportunity to introduce several new talents into the fold. Notable newcomers that might see action include goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defender Ryan Alebiosu, and midfielders Usman Muhammed, Tochukwu Nnadi, and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, alongside forwards Paul Onuachu and Salim Fago Lawal.
On the opposing side, Pharaohs’ coach Hossam Hassan, a celebrated figure in AFCON history, will likely craft his strategy around star player Mohamed Salah. Despite his extensive collection of trophies with Liverpool, Salah is still in search of his inaugural AFCON title. The Egyptian lineup will also feature players like Omar Marmoush from Manchester City, as well as key figures from Al Ahly and Pyramids FC, including Mohamed El-Shenawy, Yasser Ibrahim, Emam Ashour, and Mostafa Fathi.
For the Super Eagles, Chelle may rely on seasoned players such as goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, and Zaidu Sanusi. Midfield stalwarts Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka will look to control the game, while forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, and Ademola Lookman are expected to lead the attack.
The match is set to kick off at 8 PM local time in Egypt, which is 7 PM for Nigeria, providing both teams a vital opportunity to sharpen their skills ahead of the prestigious tournament. As the excitement builds for AFCON, fans will be closely watching this friendly for clues on how their teams will perform on the continental stage.