Nigeria and Egypt clash in Cairo tonight in a friendly ahead of AFCON 2025, with both teams set to test new players

Three-time African champions Nigeria face seven-time winners Egypt in a high-stakes friendly at Cairo Stadium on Monday evening, ahead of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Also read: Super Eagles Squad Grows to 22 Ahead of Egypt Friendly

The match provides both teams an opportunity to test new players. Nigeria manager Eric Sékou Chelle could feature goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defender Ryan Alebiosu, midfielders Usman Muhammed, Tochukwu Nnadi, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, and forwards Paul Onuachu and Salim Fago Lawal.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan, a former AFCON legend who scored seven goals in the 1998 Burkina Faso tournament, is expected to centre his strategy on Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, still seeking his first AFCON title.

Other key Egyptian players include Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush, Al Ahly’s Mohamed El-Shenawy, Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Emam Ashour, Mahmoud Trezeguet, CAF Champions League holders Pyramids’ Mohamed Hamdy and Mostafa Fathi, UAE-based Ibrahim Adel, and Mostafa Mohamed of FC Nantes.

For Nigeria, Chelle is likely to start with 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.

Also read: Super Eagles Squad Grows to 22 Ahead of Egypt Friendly

Kick-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. Egypt time (7 p.m. Nigeria time), marking a key final test before both nations begin their AFCON campaigns in Morocco.