All eyes turn to Cairo on Tuesday night as Nigeria’s Super Eagles face Egypt in a high-profile friendly that serves as the final serious test before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Morocco. For both teams, this is less about the scoreline and more about answers, sharpness, and confidence.
The match brings together two continental heavyweights at different moments in their cycles, united by the same goal: arriving in Morocco ready.
A dress rehearsal with real stakes
On paper, it is a friendly. In reality, it feels heavier than that.
Nigeria are deep in a rebuilding phase under new head coach Eric Chelle, while Egypt arrive with expectations that never really ease. Seven AFCON titles do that to you. This meeting at the Cairo International Stadium offers both sides a chance to measure progress against elite opposition.
The timing is deliberate. AFCON 2025 begins this weekend, and neither camp wants lingering doubts. Players need rhythm. Coaches need clarity. Systems need stress-testing, not theory.
Chelle has been clear behind the scenes. This game matters because Morocco is around the corner.
Nigeria’s camp takes shape in Cairo
By Monday afternoon, 15 Nigerian players had already reported to camp in Cairo, with more arrivals expected ahead of the evening training session.
Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho was the first to land, followed closely by Stanley Nwabali, who has emerged as Nigeria’s first-choice option between the posts. Their early arrival set the tone, signaling a squad eager to get to work.
Defensive options already in camp include Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Zaidu Sanusi, Amas Obasogie and Igoh Ogbu. In midfield, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Tochukwu Nnadi have joined up. The attacking line has been boosted by the arrival of Ademola Lookman and Paul Onuachu.
It is a blend of familiarity and fresh energy.
Nigeria’s first training session was scheduled for 8 p.m. local time on Monday inside the main bowl of the Cairo International Stadium, allowing players to feel the pitch, the lighting, and the atmosphere they will face the next night.
That detail matters more than it sounds.
Chelle’s selection puzzle and new faces
Tuesday’s friendly gives Chelle his clearest chance yet to evaluate the balance of his squad.
Several players named in the final 28-man list are still untested at this level. Obasogie, Ryan Alebiosu, Usman Muhammed, Nnadi, Akinsanmiro and Salim Fago Lawal all fall into that category.
This game offers them a window. Not a guarantee, but an audition.
Chelle is expected to rotate, experiment, and adjust. Still, there is a strong sense that Nigeria will lean on its core. Tournament football rewards familiarity, especially under pressure.
Likely pillars include Nwabali in goal, with Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Bassey and Sanusi across the back line. In midfield, Wilfred Ndidi, Onyeka and Iwobi remain the engine room, offering bite, movement and control.
Up front, the attacking trio of Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and Lookman represents Nigeria’s biggest threat. Pace, directness, and goals. The basics, but executed well, can be devastating.
Egypt’s familiar ambition and a legendary coach
Egypt approach the match from a different angle.
Coached by Hossam Hassan, one of the country’s most iconic football figures, the Pharaohs are once again chasing continental dominance. Hassan knows AFCON intimately. He scored seven goals during Egypt’s victorious 1998 campaign in Burkina Faso, and that experience still shapes his thinking.
His squad reflects Egypt’s usual mix of global stars and domestic mainstays.
Mohamed Salah remains the centerpiece. The Liverpool forward continues to search for his first AFCON title, an absence that stands out in an otherwise glittering career. Each tournament feels like another shot at correcting that gap.
Around him are players with pedigree. Manchester City winger Omar Marmoush adds pace and unpredictability. Al Ahly contribute heavily through Mohamed El-Shenawy, Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim and Emam Ashour. Mahmoud Trezeguet brings experience and goals.
CAF Champions League winners Pyramids FC are represented by Mohamed Hamdy and Mostafa Fathi, while Ibrahim Adel and Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed deepen Egypt’s attacking options.
It is a squad built for pressure.
A clash of styles before Morocco
Stylistically, this friendly is intriguing.
Nigeria’s strength lies in athleticism and transition play. When the Super Eagles find space, few teams on the continent can live with their speed. Egypt, by contrast, tend to control tempo, relying on structure, patience and individual quality in key moments.
That contrast makes this match useful preparation for AFCON.
Nigeria’s Group C opponents in Morocco, Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda, will all present different challenges. Egypt, with their experience and discipline, offer a strong benchmark.
For Egypt, Nigeria’s physicality and pace simulate the kind of opponents they could meet deeper into the tournament.
Both coaches get value, regardless of the result.
What comes next for the Super Eagles
After Tuesday’s game, Nigeria’s focus shifts fully to Morocco.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to depart Cairo on Thursday aboard a chartered flight to Fès, which will serve as their base for the group stage. Logistics, recovery and mental reset take priority.
Nigeria open their AFCON campaign on Tuesday, December 23, against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars at the Complexe Sportif de Fès. Tunisia follow on December 27, before a final Group C clash with Uganda on December 30.
All three matches will be played in Fès, eliminating travel fatigue but increasing familiarity. Every opponent will know the conditions.
Nigeria, three-time African champions, are chasing a fourth title after lifting the trophy in 1980, 1994 and 2013. The current campaign has been branded “NAIJA 4 THE WIN,” a slogan that reflects both ambition and expectation.
Whether that ambition is realistic will soon become clear.
One night, many questions
Kick-off is set for 8 p.m. Egypt time, 7 p.m. in Nigeria.
By the final whistle, Chelle will have learned a great deal. Who looks ready. Who looks nervous. Which combinations click, and which still feel forced.
For fans, it is a rare treat. A heavyweight African clash without immediate consequences, yet loaded with meaning.
