The Super Eagles will take on the Pharaohs of Egypt, record seven-time AFCON winners, in an international friendly at the Cairo Stadium on Tuesday, December 16, as both sides fine-tune preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco, which kick off on Sunday, December 21.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is expected to use the friendly to assess several squad players, including goalkeeper Amas Obasogie; defender Ryan Alebiosu; midfielders Usman Muhammed, Tochukwu Nnadi, and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro; and forwards Paul Onuachu and Salim Fago Lawal.
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Chelle is expected to start Stanley Nwabali, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Zaidu Sanusi in defence.
Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, and Alex Iwobi are likely to anchor the midfield, while Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, and Ademola Lookman lead the attack.
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The kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Nigeria time. As of Monday afternoon, 17 of the 28 players named in Nigeria’s final AFCON squad had arrived in Cairo, with the remaining players expected before Monday evening’s training session.
Three-time African champions, the Super Eagles, will depart Cairo for the Moroccan city of Fès on Thursday aboard a chartered flight.
Nigeria’s quest for a fourth AFCON title, after previous success in 1980, 1994, and 2013.
The Super Eagles will kick off their AFCON 2025 campaign on Tuesday, December 23, against Tanzania.
They will then face Tunisia on Saturday, December 27, before rounding off Group C with a clash against Uganda on Tuesday, December 30. All of Nigeria’s group matches will be played at the Complexe Sportif de Fès.
