Super Eagles, Pharaohs Use High-Profile Friendly to Fine-Tune AFCON 2025 Preparations.

Super Eagles

Three-time champions Nigeria and seven-time Africa Cup of Nations winners Egypt will lock horns on Tuesday evening at the Cairo International Stadium in a high-profile friendly aimed at sharpening preparations for the 35th AFCON finals, which kick off in Morocco on Sunday, sportblits.com reports.

Both sides are expected to use the encounter to assess squad depth, fitness and tactical options ahead of the tournament.

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle could hand opportunities to 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.

Egypt, coached by former AFCON legend Hossam Hassan, approach the fixture under the guidance of one of the competition’s most decorated figures. Hassan famously scored seven goals when Egypt won the 1998 AFCON in Burkina Faso, finishing as joint top scorer alongside Benni McCarthy.

The Pharaohs’ plans are expected to revolve around Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who is still chasing his first AFCON title.

Salah will be supported by a strong cast that includes Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush, Al Ahly trio Mohamed El-Shenawy, Mohamed Hany and Yasser Ibrahim, alongside Emam Ashour and Mahmoud Trezeguet.

CAF Champions League holders Pyramids FC are represented by Mohamed Hamdy and Mostafa Fathi, while Ibrahim Adel and FC Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed also feature in a formidable Egyptian squad.

For Nigeria, Chelle is expected to lean on a solid core comprising goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali; defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Zaidu Sanusi; midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi; and attackers Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm local time in Egypt, which is 7pm in Nigeria. As of Monday night, 23 of the 28 players named in Nigeria’s final squad had arrived in Cairo, with the remaining players expected before matchday.

After the friendly, the Super Eagles will depart Cairo on Thursday aboard a chartered flight to Fés, their base for the tournament.

Nigeria are chasing a fourth AFCON title, having previously lifted the trophy in 1980, 1994 and 2013, with the campaign branded “NAIJA 4 THE WIN.”

The Super Eagles will open their Group C campaign on Tuesday, December 23, against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars, a repeat of the opening fixture of the 1980 AFCON, which Nigeria hosted and won. They will then face Tunisia on December 27 before rounding off the group against Uganda on December 30, with all matches billed for the Complexe Sportif de Fés.

Egypt, the only nation to win AFCON three times consecutively between 2006 and 2010, are drawn in Group B alongside South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe, and will play their matches at the Stade d’Agadir.