Super Eagles Fall 2–1 to Egypt in Pre-AFCON Friendly as Chelle Tests New Options

The Super Eagles of Nigeria were edged 2–1 by Egypt on Tuesday night in an international friendly played at the Cairo International Stadium, as preparations continue ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Head coach Eric Chelle used the encounter to experiment with his squad, fielding a largely rotated side against the Pharaohs in what proved to be a competitive and instructive outing.

Egypt opened the scoring in the 28th minute through Mahmoud Saber, who capitalised on a moment of defensive lapse to put the hosts ahead. Nigeria, however, responded positively and found an equaliser just before the break.

Chidozie Awaziem rose highest to nod home a well-delivered free kick from Zaidu Sanusi after Egypt failed to properly clear their lines, ensuring the Super Eagles went into halftime on level terms.

The home side regained control early in the second half, and Mostafa Mohamed restored Egypt’s lead with a composed finish, a goal that eventually decided the contest as Nigeria struggled to find another breakthrough.

Despite late efforts, the Super Eagles were unable to force a second equaliser, and the match ended 2–1 in favour of Egypt.

Nigeria will now turn their attention to the Africa Cup of Nations proper, travelling to Fez, Morocco on Thursday to continue final preparations for the tournament.

Opinion: More Lessons Than Worries for the Super Eagles

While the defeat may raise a few eyebrows, the result itself is less important than the insights gained. With Chelle clearly prioritising experimentation over immediate results, the friendly offered a valuable opportunity to assess squad depth, tactical flexibility, and player combinations against strong opposition.

The performance showed flashes of promise—particularly in Nigeria’s response after conceding—but also highlighted areas that still require fine-tuning, especially defensive organisation and game management in the second half.

As the Super Eagles head to Morocco, this loss should serve as a timely reminder that success at AFCON will demand cohesion, discipline, and sharper execution. If the lessons from Cairo are properly absorbed, this setback could prove to be a blessing in disguise rather than a cause for alarm.