Egypt’s Pharaohs will face a stern examination of their readiness for the Africa Cup of Nations when they take on Nigeria in a high-profile friendly, just days before the start of their continental campaign. The warm-up match comes as Egypt prepare to open their AFCON journey on Monday, 22 December, against Zimbabwe.
The tournament will be staged in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January, with the Pharaohs drawn into Group B alongside Zimbabwe, Angola and South Africa. The fixture offers head coach Hossam Hassan a strategic opportunity to assess his squad against Nigeria, runners-up at the previous AFCON and one of Africa’s traditional powerhouses, despite their recent failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Egypt enter the match under scrutiny after an underwhelming showing at the UAE International Tournament in November, where they lost to Uzbekistan and edged Cape Verde on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Defensive lapses drew sharp criticism, heightening concerns ahead of the Nations Cup. Selection uncertainties persist, with the availability of Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush in doubt after both missed the final training session on Monday. Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan and Ibrahim Adel are ruled out with minor injuries but are expected to be fit for the Zimbabwe clash. The rest of the squad is available, bolstered by the arrival of Mostafa Mohamed, Rami Rabia and four Pyramids FC players into camp.
Historically, Nigeria hold a narrow advantage in the rivalry, with six wins to Egypt’s five from 18 meetings, alongside seven draws. Their last encounter came in March 2019, when Nigeria secured a 1-0 friendly victory. Following Tuesday’s match, Egypt will travel to Morocco within hours, sharpening focus on their bid for a record-extending eighth AFCON title and their first since 2010.
