Nigeria and Egypt will use an international friendly match in Cairo to test new players and assess squad depth ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The high-profile encounter is expected to give both coaching crews the opportunity to experiment with fresh faces, tactical variations, and combinations as preparations intensify for the continental tournament. With AFCON 2025 drawing closer, the friendly is seen as a crucial step in fine-tuning team balance and building cohesion.
For Nigeria, the match offers a platform to integrate emerging talents and fringe players into the Super Eagles setup, while also evaluating their readiness for top-level competition. The technical crew is expected to rotate the squad, allowing several players to stake claims for inclusion in the final tournament roster.
Egypt, meanwhile, will also take advantage of the fixture to assess new options as they seek to strengthen their squad. The Pharaohs are expected to blend experienced internationals with younger players as they rebuild and prepare for another strong AFCON campaign.
Officials from both teams have described the friendly as a valuable test, noting that matches between Nigeria and Egypt are often intense and competitive despite their non-competitive status. The encounter is also expected to attract significant attention from fans, given the long-standing rivalry between the two African football giants.
Shopeju Olateju
NaijaTravels News