Nigeria and Egypt will have the opportunity to test newbies during a test game at the Cairo Stadium on Tuesday evening, as both teams prepare for their campaigns at the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals kicking off in Morocco on Sunday.
The Super Eagles warm up game kicks 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.
Super Eagles Warm Up: Chelle’s Opportunity To Test Newbies
Nigeria manager Eric Sékou Chelle can 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.
Egypt coach Hassan will most probably weave his game plan for the friendly match and the AFCON tournament itself around Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah, who, despite a hefty trophy shelf, is looking for his first AFCON title.
There will also be Manchester City of England’s Omar Marmoush, 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, and 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.
Nigeria To Leave Cairo For Fés
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 rolls off the ground on Tuesday, 23rd December with a clash against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars, in a repeat of the opening match of the 1980 finals that Nigeria hosted and won.
The Eagles will then clash with 2004 hosts and winners Tunisia on Saturday, 27th December, before their final Group C encounter against Uganda’s Cranes on Tuesday, 30th December.
All of Nigeria’s group phase matches hold at the Complexe Sportif de Fés.
The Pharaohs, who are the only country to have achieved three consecutive triumphs (2006-2010), have 1996 hosts and champion South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe in Group B. Their matches will take place at the Stade d’Agadir in Agadir.