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African football giants Egypt and Nigeria will undertake their final AFCON preparations with a friendly meeting in Cairo on Tuesday.
Egypt are the most successful team in Africa Cup of Nations history, with seven successes. However, the last of these triumphs was back in 2010, and Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah would dearly love to add a major international trophy to his glittering career haul.
Nigeria are still smarting from World Cup qualifying elimination and head coach Eric Chelle will need a strong showing in Morocco, if not victory outright, to hold onto his job.
The Sporting News will provide live score updates from Egypt vs. Nigeria and a match report at full-time.
MORE: Full list of all-time Africa Cup of Nations champions
Egypt vs. Nigeria live score
| Pregame | Goalscorers | |
| Egypt | 0 | _ |
| Nigeria | 0 | _ |
Location: Cairo International Stadium (Cairo, Egypt)
Referee: Mahmoud Nagi (EGY)
Predicted lineups:
Egypt (3-4-3): Sobhi (GK) — Hany, Rabia, Hamdi — Zizo, Shehata, Ateya, Otaka — Taher, Mostafa, Faisal
Nigeria (4-3-1-2): Uzoho (GK) — Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Sanusi — Onyeka, Akinsanmiro, Dele-Bashiru — Lookman — Adams, Onuachu
Egypt vs. Nigeria highlights from pre-AFCON friendly
The Sporting News will provide updates of goals and other major incidents once Egypt vs. Nigeria kicks off in Cairo.
Egypt vs. Nigeria kick off time
This international friendly match kicks off at Cairo International Stadium on December 16 at 8 p.m. local time in Cairo, Egypt. Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Tue, Dec. 16 | 1 p.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Tue, Dec. 16 | 10 a.m. PT |
| UK | Tue, Dec. 16 | 6 p.m. GMT |
| Australia | Wed, Dec. 17 | 5 a.m. AEDT |
| India | Tue, Dec. 16 | 11:30 p.m. IST |
Egypt vs. Nigeria lineups, team news
Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush are unlikely to feature after the Liverpool and Manchester City forwards arrived from club duty as planned.
Trezeguet missed training on Monday after undergoing dental work, while Ibrahim Adel is still nursing an ankle sprain. Both are expected to be fine for the Pharaohs’ tournament opener against Zimbabwe.
Egypt predicted starting lineup (3-4-3): Sobhi (GK) — Hany, Rabia, Hamdi — Zizo, Shehata, Ateya, Otaka — Taher Mostafa, Faisal
First-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is a doubt for Nigeria as he is nursing wrist and ankle problems. Francis Uzoho is likely to start ahead of the uncapped Amas Obasogie.
Semi Ajayi is likely to start at centre-back alongside Calvin Bassey following William Troost-Ekong’s retirement from international football and Benjamin Frederick‘s injury.
Frank Onyeka will hope for some game time after struggling for action at Brentford. Akor Adams and Paul Onuachu are tipped to start up front, with Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Simon all late arrivals in camp.
Nigeria predicted starting lineup (4-3-1-2): Uzoho (GK) — Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Sanusi — Onyeka, Akinsanmiro, Dele-Bashiru — Lookman — Adams, Onuachu
Nigeria AFCON schedule
Nigeria have been drawn in Group C at AFCON 2025 alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania.
Nigeria AFCON fixtures
- 12/23/25: Nigeria vs. Tanzania (Fez Stadium, Fez)
- 12/27/25: Nigeria vs. Tunisia (Fez Stadium, Fez)
- 12/30/25: Uganda vs. Nigeria (Fez Stadium, Fez)
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