Nigeria and Egypt will clash in a high stakes friendly match on Tuesday December 16th, in preparation for the 2025 African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco, SportPremi Reports.
The match was initially scheduled for the 14th of December, but was shifted due to the release deadline set by FIFA for the 15th and will hold in Cairo, Egypt, where the Super Eagles are camped before heading to Morocco for the continental tournament.
Nigerian head coach Eric Chelle named a final 28-man squad for the tournament last week and the match against the Pharaohs provide the avenue to assess the performance of the team and determine his best lineup for their opening clash against Tanzania on the 23rd of this month.
Nigeria vs Egypt Match Preview
Nigeria head into the clash on the back of a disappointing penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the CAF playoff final, which ended their hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Super Eagles have won three of their last five outings, including a 4-1 win over Gabon in the playoff semifinal, while they also recorded a 1-1 draw at South Africa in September.
Egypt, meanwhile, are winless in their last five outings, recording three draws and two defeats. The Pharaohs lost 3-0 to Jordan in their last friendly match, after they had already secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by finishing top of their group.
Match Details
Competition: Pre-tournament Friendly Match for the 2025 AFCON tournament
Date: Tuesday 16th December, 2026
Kickoff Time: 19:00 Local Time (18:00 GMT)
Venue: Cairo International Stadium, Egypt
Head to Head (H2H) Record
Nigeria and Egypt have met several times over the past few years, with the latter holding the advantage in the number of wins. However, the Super Eagles have won both of the last two matches between both sides.
Last Five Meetings:
- January 2022: Nigeria 1-0 Egypt (African Cup of Nations)
- March 2019: Nigeria 1-0 Egypt (International Friendly Match)
- March 2016: Egypt 1-0 Nigeria (African Cup of Nations Qualifier)
- March 2016: Nigeria 1-1 Egypt (African Cup of Nations Qualifier)
- April 2012: Egypt 3-2 Nigeria (International Friendly Match)
Nigeria Team News
The Super Eagles opened their camp in preparation for the African Cup of Nations on Sunday, with the likes of Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro are among players who have arrived in Cairo.
The likes of Ademola Lookman, Igoh Ogbu, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Semi Ajayi are also expected to arrive before training sessions on Monday ahead of the clash against Egypt.
Nigeria Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)
GK: Francis Uzoho
RB: Ryan Alebiosu
CB: Calvin Bassey
CB: Semi Ajayi
LB: Bruno Onyemaechi
CDM: Wilfried Ndidi
CM: Alex Iwobi
CM: Frank Onyeka
LW: Ademola Lookman
RW: Samuel Chukwueze
ST: Paul Onuachu
Egypt Team News
Egypt also named a 28-man contingent for the African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco, led by Premier League stars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.
Experienced goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy also makes the squad as the Pharaohs will battle South Africa, Zimbabwe and Angola in group B.
Egypt Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)
GK: Sobhy
DF: Hany
DF: Ibrahim
FB: Rabia
FB: Hamdy
DM: Lasheen
CM: Saber
CM: Adel
LW: Marmoush
RW: Salah
ST: Mohamed Mostafa
Key Players to Watch
Nigeria:
Ademola Lookman – The Atalanta forward has returned to form in recent weeks and will be eyeing a good outing against Egypt as he gears up for the AFCON tournament in Morocco.
Egypt:
Omar Marmoush – The Manchester City forward’s electric pace and shooting ability makes him a threat against any defender and is one player to keep tabs on.
Prediction
This clash promises to be an exciting encounter as both sides ramp up preparations for the African Cup of Nations tournament. However, Nigeria’s quality in attack should give them the edge over Egypt in this particular clash.
Predicted Score: Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
Betting Tips
- Nigeria to Win or Draw
- Under 3.5 Goals
