On Tuesday afternoon, two of Africa’s biggest footballing nations clash, as Nigeria and Egypt go head-to-head in their opening match of Group D of the African Cups of nations.
Nigeria have in the past been a powerhouse of African football and as in previous years have several players playing in Europe’s top leagues in their squad.
📷Today’s training session of the Pharaohs in preparation for Nigeria ⚽️🇪🇬📷: @EFA #ThePharaohs #Pharaohs #NGAEGY #AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/nXGCUnkZip— Egypt National Football Team (@ThePharaohs_) January 9, 2022
📷Today’s training session of the Pharaohs in preparation for Nigeria ⚽️🇪🇬📷: @EFA #ThePharaohs #Pharaohs #NGAEGY #AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/nXGCUnkZip
The Super Eagles will be looking to improve upon their semi-final place last time out at AFCON. On that occasion, they suffered an exit at the hands of eventual winners Algeria.
Nigeria have a strong recent record at the continental tournament, having recorded nine wins in their last 11 outings in the competition.
However, they come up against a team that they have beaten just once in the last five meetings in all competitions.
Augustine Eguavoen’s team have been in decent form heading into this tournament, having won four of their last six games in all competitions.
Egypt are the most successful country in the history of the AFCON, having won the competition on seven occasions in the past.
In fact, between 2006 and 2010, the Pharaoh’s lifted the trophy in three consecutive tournaments. However, last time out they only made the last-16 of the competition and much more is expected of them this time around.
The expectancy is understandable considering their history in the tournament. The presence of one of European football’s most in-form players in Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah also ramps up the pressure on Carlos Queiroz’s team.
Egypt have not enjoyed the best results heading into this tournament, though, as they have won just once in their last four international outings.
Forebet predicts that this clash will be a tight one, ending in a low-scoring draw, which wouldn’t be the worse result for the two African giants.