Nigeria’s Super Eagles are hoping to commence their quest for a fourth African title this Tuesday evening with a victory over the Pharaohs of Egypt in the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in the Cameroonian city of Garoua.
No doubt, this is a match that has generated so much interest from football fans across the globe as it presents the ninth time both countries will be meeting at the biennial African showpiece.
Interestingly, the Super Eagles hold the upper hand with three wins to the Pharaohs’ two, although the North Africans triumphed 3-1 the last time out at Angola 2010.
But for today, Carlos Queiroz’s Egypt are hot favourites to emerge tops in this cracker being unbeaten in each of their last 16 group matches in the competition – with 12 wins and four draws.
Their last defeat in the group phase dates back to the 2004 tournament where they bowed 2-1 to arch-rivals Algeria.
The odds favour the North Africans because Augustine Eguavoen’s side will not have the luxury of a full-strength squad, with the likes of Peter Etebo, Victor Osimhen, Paul Onuachu, and Odion Ighalo, all missing out due to contrasting reasons. Regardless, they know that anything short of a win could prove costly.
However, Captain Ahmed Musa is bullish of Nigeria’s chances, claiming the Super Eagles will not fret coming against Liverpool star, Mohamed Salah, who has been tipped to give the three-time African kings a restless evening.
According to the Turkey-based forward, the Super Eagles boast of quality the North Africans should be worried about, saying; “Everyone is talking about Salah but if you look at our team, we have lots of players they will be worried about.”
He told the media thus; “We don’t have to think about Salah, they have to think about our own players. They talk about Salah, but we have players like Samuel Chukwueze and others on the wings who are very dangerous – so that’s football.”
The Super Eagles are making their 19th appearance at the continental football carnival and they have reached the semi-finals in 14 of their last 16 participations, winning the tournament on three occasions.
The West African giants begin their AFCON campaign with a heavyweight clash with Mohamed Salah and co. in Garoua, where they’ll be desperate to put a troubled build-up to the tournament behind them and assert themselves as contenders for the title.
While every team present at the Nations Cup has had to deal with adverse conditions during their preparation, few have been as muddled as Nigeria, who even parted ways with head coach Gernot Rohr on the eve of the tournament.
He was duly replaced by Jose Peseiro, although in a decision that has baffled supporters, the incoming coach will only be an overseer at the Nations Cup, with Augustine Eguavoen instead taking the reins during the tournament.
It is an unhappy arrangement for many supporters, with a swathe of absentees, some of which the NFF must take the blame for, also affecting the build-up and potentially undermining Nigeria’s chances at the biennial showpiece.
The names of absentees roll off the tongue; any one of Victor Osimhen, Odion Ighalo, Paul Onauchu, Terem Moffi, Emmanuel Dennis would be a star man for half a dozen of the teams at the Nations Cup, yet none will be present for the Eagles in Cameroon.
Taiwo Awoniyi is being hailed as the most likely contender to come in and lead the line for the Super Eagles, but he’s short of international experience. But the forward is enjoying a fine season in the Bundesliga where he has scored nine goals this season appears.
Kelechi Iheanacho, a player who is often more effective in a supporting role, is another option, but can the Leicester City man rediscover the fine goalscoring form he demonstrated during the first half of 2021?
Indeed, it is a big ask, particularly against an Egyptian backline that could be among the most formidable in the tournament.
Position Nigeria Squad
Goalkeepers – Francis Uzoho, John Noble, Daniel Akpeyi, Maduka Okoye
Defenders – Chidozie Awaziem, Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun; William Ekong; Olaoluwa Aina; Jamilu Collins; Abdullahi Shehu; Zaidu Sanusi, Olisa Ndah
Midfielders – Frank Onyeka; Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, Wilfred Ndidi, Chidera Ejuke, Kelechi Nwakali, Alex Iwobi Kelechi Iheanacho
Forwards – Ahmed Musa, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Sadiq Umar, Taiwo Awoniyi
- Potential Nigeria XI: Okoye, Ekong, Awaziem, Aina, Ndidi, Aribo, Ejuke, Chukwueze, Iheanacho
Position Egypt Squad
Goalkeepers – Mohamed El-Shennawy, Mohamed Sobhi, Mohamed Abogabal, Mahmoud Gad
Defenders – Ahmed Fatouh, Mahmoud Alaa, Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh, Ayman Ashraf, Akram Tawfik, Omar Kamal, Mohamed Abdel-Moneim, Ahmed Hegazi
Midfielders – Hamdi Fathi, Amr El-Sulya, Emam Ashour, Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Abdallah El-Said, Ramadan Sobhi, Mohamed Elneny, Omar Marmoush , Mohanad Lasheen, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet
Forwards – Mostafa Mohamed, Mohamed Sherif, Mohamed Salah
- Potential Egypt XI: Shenawy, Fathy, Hegazy, El Wensh, El Neny, Soleya, Magdi, Sherif, Rayan, Salah – Goal.com reports
