Big Match Feature: Nigeria v Egypt

Nigeria will resume their quest for a spot at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations against Egypt this Friday at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

The Super Eagles trail group leaders the Pharaohs of Egypt by two points which make the game more important considering the Eagles cannot afford to drop more points.

The winners of the group pick the sole ticket for Gabon 2017 which adds more importance to the game.

Preparations for the game have not exactly been top-stacked considering Nigeria will be having a third coach and a third captain less than a year after the qualifiers started.

Stephen Keshi, who led Nigeria to a 2-0 win over Chad in the first game of Group G, was ousted by the Nigeria Football Federation and replaced with Sunday Oliseh.

His reign barely lasted seven months as he unceremoniously resigned from his post citing breach of contract amongst other sundry accusations.

Samson Siasia has been saddled with the responsibility the Super Eagle albeit on a temporary basis as the Afcon qualifier against Egypt looms in the background.

Nigeria have had three captains in the course of the Afcon qualification. Vincent Enyeama, Ahmed Musa and now John Obi Mikel (pictured above).

It will be Siasia’s first game in charge since failing to qualify Nigeria for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, a feat he will do to avert with the back-to-back games against the Pharaohs a stern test for the former FC Nantes player.

Match background

Nigeria and Egypt have had a long history between the two sides across all levels of football over the years.

The first time the two sides met at full international level was in January 1960 with Nigeria edging the Egyptians 2-1.

There has been 16 other matches since then with Nigeria winning six times, losing five and drawing five in a 56-year period.

Egypt, like Nigeria, missed the last edition and will try to make up for lost time.

The Pharaohs, seven-time winners of the Afcon, missed the last three editions and have handed coach Hector Cuper the mandate to get them back to the premier African football event.

Previous encounters

January 1, 1960: Nigeria 2-1 Egypt

November 24, 1963: Nigeria 3-6 Egypt

January 14, 1973: Nigeria 4-0 Egypt

January 14, 1976: Nigeria 3-2 Egypt

October 8, 1977: Nigeria 4-0 Egypt

October 21, 1977: Egypt 3-1 Nigeria

March 15, 1980: Nigeria 1-0 Egypt

February 20, 1983: Nigeria 1-1 Egypt

March 14, 1984: Nigeria 2-2 Egypt

March 20, 1988: Egypt 0-0 Nigeria

March 5, 1990: Nigeria 1-0 Egypt

March 30, 1994: Egypt 0-0 Nigeria

September 21, 1995: Egypt 1-0 Nigeria

November 25, 2002: Nigeria 1-1 Egypt

January 12, 2010: Egypt 3-1 Nigeria

April 12, 2012: Egypt 3-2 Nigeria

Siasia will look to get all three points at stake to leapfrog Egypt into first place pending the return leg in Alexandria.

The Super Eagles struggled against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam in the last game. Despite drawing the game. They will surely count it as a point gained rather than two points lost.

The die is cast. The Eagles are condemned to win and start ramping up the points on board beginning with the game against Egypt in Kaduna.

Group G results so far

Nigeria 2-0 Chad

Egypt 3-1 Tanzania

Chad 1-5 Egypt

Nigeria 0-0 Tanzania

Chad 0-1 Tanzania

Group standings

P W D L GF GA GD PTS POS

Egypt 2 2 0 0 8 1 +7 6 1st

Nigeria 2 1 1 0 2 0 +2 4 2nd

Tanzania 3 1 1 1 1 3 -2 4 3rd

Chad 3 0 0 3 1 8 -7 0 4th

Team news

Nigeria will be without Leon Balogun and Kenneth Omeruo for the all-important clash which will definitely limit Siasia’s choices at centre-back considering no replacement has been called up.

Ogenyi Onazi will also sit out the game in Kaduna after his red card against Chad but will be available for the return leg in Alexandria.

Mostafa Fathi will be missing for Egypt after the exciting winger sustained an injury last week. He has since been replaced by Al Ahly’s Mohmen Mostafa.

Left-back Mohamed Abdel-Shafty is also out of the game alongside first-choice goalkeeper Sheriff Ekramy who did not make the trip to Nigeria.

Veteran goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary made the trip to Nigeria but has been ruled out of the encounter with medial calf injury.

Players to watch

Egypt and Nigeria have produced some outstanding players over the years and with both teams going through transitions, new exciting talents to look out for have emerged.

Roma’s Mohamed Salah is unarguably the leader of a new generation of Egyptian players making a name for themselves. He has set the Italian Serie A on fire this term with goals and electrifying pace down the flanks for the Giallorossi.

Mohamed Elneny (pictured below) is another one that catches the eye. The Arsenal man is a delight to watch in midfield with his all-action style and surging runs forward.

He can also play as a defensive midfielder even though he likes to get forward to score goals; his goal for Arsenal against FC Barcelona in the Uefa Champions League is a testament of his strengths.

Nigeria will rely on Odion Ighalo for goals against the Pharaohs.The Watford FC striker has had a phenomenal year in the English Premier League ramping in the goals and wowing fans alike.

He is a very good finisher who knows how to position himself in the box and times his runs to perfection. His partnership with Troy Deeney is the sole reason Watford are above the relegation zone.

Ighalo will be a very important player for Nigeria but so will be Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel, who is the new captain of the Super Eagles.

Mikel is the longest-serving member of the team with 64 caps and brings plenty experience to the side.

He has had a rejuvenation of sorts at Chelsea since the appointment of Guus Hiddink as Chelsea’s substantive manager following the departure of Jose Mourinho.

The 28-year-old has grown to be a versatile player over the years alternating between an offensive and defensive position in midfield.

Wherever he is played, the player has the potential to dictate the tune of the game for Nigeria and a lot will be on his shoulders against Egypt; not only as the captain of the side but as the most experienced member of the team.

What they said

“The Egyptians are not a threat. They are a good team but we are not afraid of them.

“We played against an Egyptian team (at the 2015 Afcon) in Senegal. They came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 so we know a bit of how they play.

“There is no need to be afraid. We just have to ensure that our tactics are right on the day.

“It will be a difficult challenge but I can assure you that we are not afraid.” – Samson Siasia (pictured below), Nigeria coach