Fireworks in Garoua as Nigeria, Egypt revive rivalry



It's Day 3 of the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations and Nigeria's interest in the competition will rev into higher gear. The Super Eagles get their campaign off the ground with a top class clash against the Pharaohs of Egypt.

Chasing a record-extending eighth win of the title, Egypt have the added advantage in squad member Mohamed Salah, one of the world's prolific wingers. With 16 goals so far, Salah is the leading scorer in the English Premier League this season. And his side Liverpool have 18 games to conclude the season, meaning Salah is on the way to eclipse his previous season's goal haul of 22.

While Egypt have their main threat on show, Nigeria will be without leading striker Victor Osimhen. Together with Zambia's Patson Daka, the Napoli star led the goal chart with five goals in the qualifiers for Cameroon 2021. He also turned in four goals to support Nigeria's journey to the last qualifying phase of this year's FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Osimhen suffered injury in November and has not featured for his Serie A club since. But given his importance to the Nigerian campaign, he was included in the initial Super Eagles squad for the ongoing tournament but had to be dropped after testing positive to Covid-19 in the national team's camp.

Interim coach Augustine Eguavoen is however optimistic that his team will acquit themselves. "We have no worries. We respect Egypt, but Nigeria is a great team, and we didn't come here to lose", he told CAFonline . "I'm not looking for personal glory, but the most important thing I'm looking for is an achievement for Nigeria".

In turn, his opposite number Carlos Queiroz showed respect for Nigeria. "We will face a team that has many great players, but we are ready and we will face them with full force".

Nigeria and Egypt last faced off in a friendly on 26th March 2019 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba with Paul Onuachu's first minute goal being the decider.

As it's this evening, both sides played the opening match of Group C in Angola 2010. Nigeria scored first through Chinedu Obasi in the 12th minute only for the Pharaohs to reply with three goals and eventually win the group. Egypt won that tournament, while Nigeria picked the bronze medal.

Head-to-head clashes in AFCON also happened in 2016 in Group G qualifiers for Gabon 2017. Nigeria conceded a 90th minute equaliser (Salah the scorer) in Kaduna to end the game 1-1 on 25th March 2016, and then lost by a lone goal four days later in Alexandra. Only Egypt qualified from that group that was depleted by the withdrawal of Chad midway into the phase.

Both sides almost had a friendly in April 2012, which ended 3-2 in favour of the Egyptians.

In today's game, Eguavoen is likely to start Maduka Okoye, who just joined English Premier League side Watford, but will be on loan to Sparta Rotterdam, the Dutch club from where he was signed.

The back four may have William Troost-Ekong, Chidozie Awaziem, Seyi Ajayi and Ola Aina, while the midfielders may include Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Joe Aribo, while in the wings and the forward liners may be Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Iheanacho, skipper Ahmed Musa and Taiwo Awoniyi.

Keeper Mohamed El-Shenawy, defenders Ahmed Fathi and Ahmed Hegazy may also be called upon to stop the Nigerian offensive.

Earlier in the day, Algeria will begin the defence of their title against minnows Sierra Leone, who have not been to the competition since 1996. The Leone Stars made back-to-back appearances in 1996 and 1998 but got kicked out in the first round on each time.

The Desert Warriors of Algeria beat Senegal at the group phase and in the final of Egypt 2019 to lift the trophy for the second time. Captain Riyad Mahrez will be on duty to inspire the north Africans to another glorious outing.

Today's fixtures:
Group D: Nigeria v Egypt (5 pm)Sudan v Guinea-Bissau (8 pm)
Group E: Algeria v Sierra Leone (2 pm)

Tomorrow: Group F: Tunisia v Mali (2 pm), Mauritania v The Gambia (5 pm); Group E: Equatorial Guinea v Côte d’Ivoire (8 pm)

Results:
Sunday: Group A: Cameroon 2-1 Burkina Faso, Ethiopia 0-1 Cape Verde Islands
Monday: Group B: Senegal 1-0 Zimbabwe, Guinea 1-0 Malawi; Group C Morocco 1-0 Ghana, Comoros Islands 0-1 Gabon

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