Nigeria’s senior men’s national team will take on the Pharaohs of Egypt in a high-profile pre-AFCON friendly on December 16, 2025, as preparations intensify ahead of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The match, scheduled for the iconic Cairo International Stadium, will kick off at 8:00 PM Egypt time (7:00 PM Nigeria time). It is expected to serve as a vital test for the Super Eagles as they work to fine-tune tactics, assess player chemistry, and build cohesion under the national team’s technical leadership.
The fixture offers Nigeria a chance to evaluate their readiness against one of Africa’s most experienced national teams, giving the coaching crew an opportunity to make final adjustments before the continental showpiece.
The Super Eagles will compete in Group C, where they will battle Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania for a place in the knockout phase of AFCON 2025.
Nigeria’s group-stage campaign will begin on Tuesday, December 23, when they face Tanzania’s Taifa Stars at the Complexe Sportif de Fès. The team will remain at the same venue for their second fixture against Tunisia on Saturday, December 27.
The Super Eagles will conclude their group-stage schedule on Tuesday, December 30, with a decisive clash against the Uganda Cranes, also in Fès.
With the tournament approaching and expectations high, the upcoming friendly against Egypt will be a crucial step in Nigeria’s bid to mount a strong challenge for the AFCON title.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
