Egypt vs Nigeria Friendly: What to Expect Before AFCON

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face Egypt’s Pharaohs in a preparation match at the Cairo International Stadium later today, December 16, 2025. The game is part of both teams’ final preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The match was first planned as an international friendly but lost that status after it was moved by one day. FIFA rules allowed clubs to keep players until December 15, which was the original match date. 

Because of the delay, the game will now be played strictly as a preparation match. Even without international status, both teams will use the game to test players and build match fitness before AFCON.

What the match means

Nigeria coach Eric Chelle and Egypt coach Hossam Hassan will focus on giving minutes to players who are not regular starters. The match allows both teams to try combinations and assess squad depth with the tournament close.

Nigeria team news

The Super Eagles trained at the Cairo International Stadium on December 15. The squad was not complete at the session.

Twenty-two players trained, including goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Stanley Nwabali. The remaining seven players are expected to arrive later or join the team directly at the AFCON venue.

Nigeria is expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. The likely team includes Stanley Nwabali in goal, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, and Zaidu Sanusi in defence. The midfield could feature Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, and Alex Iwobi, while Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, and Ademola Lookman lead the attack.

Egypt team news

Egypt also trained at the same venue but did not have a full squad. Europe-based players such as Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush were absent from training.

This means Egypt may rely on available players and fringe squad members for the match.

What to expect

The game will be competitive but focused on preparation rather than results. Both teams will aim to avoid injuries, test tactics, and improve sharpness before AFCON begins.

The match kicks off later tonight at the Cairo International Stadium.