AFCON 2021 Match Preview; Nigeria Vs Egypt
2022-01-10 News
AFCON 2021 GROUP D MATCH ROUND 1 PREVIEW; NIGERIA VS EGYPT
The stage is set and the 30,000 capacity Stade Roumdé Adjia will be the venue for the rumble, as the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Pharaohs of Egypt lock horns in the Group D clash of the African Nations Cup. This fixture has the name of Liverpool’s talisman Mo Salah, written all over it, and apart from his stellar performance in the English premier league this season, his notable and what can be safely called a heartbreaking goal against Nigeria in 2017 appears to be one most Nigerians are yet to forget. With both sides hoping to go farther than they did in 2019, this fixture promises to be nothing but one filled with fireworks.
MATCH PREVIEW;
Both sides have come into this tournament as favorites to win the title and their pedigrees coming into this tournament speaks volumes with Egypt being a 7-time champion and Nigeria picking up a whopping 15 medals in a total of 18 AFCON tournaments in which they have participated in. Though Carlos Queiroz’s men are yet to score in their last two games, the Inclusion of Super forward Mo Salah promises a lot of goals. Nigeria on the other hand is not lacking in the goal-scoring department as players like Taiwo Awoniyi and inform Chidera Ejuke promises a lot of goals for the Eagles.
TEAM NEWS/HEAD-2-HEAD;
In what was a roller-coaster event, the Super Eagles of Nigeria saw their coach Gernot Rohr relieved of his duties just weeks to the commencement of the AFCON and former captain Austin Eugavoen taking the reins on an interim basis. The 56-year-old has named a star-studded 28-man squad, including the Leicester City duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, CSKA Moscow forward Chidera Ejuke and inform Union Berlin forward Taiwo Awoniyi. In defense, Eguavoen will be counting on Veterans like William Troost-Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo as well as Venezia’s full-back Tyrone Ebuehi Notable absentees for the Super Eagles include Victor Osimhen and Emmanuel Dennis, who for injuries and administrative issues are not available for the tournament. For Carlos Queiroz’s boys, Liverpool forward Mo Salah, who is the current Premier League top scorer with 16 goals in 20 games, will be one to watch out for as he looks to make his mark on the biggest stage in African football as well as Arsenal’s Mohammed Elneny to orchestrate play in the middle of the pack. The last five meetings between both sides have seen Egypt win 3, Nigeria win 1, and a draw respectively.
POSSIBLE LINE-UP;
Nigeria
Okoye; Sanusi, Troost-Ekong, Omeruo, Aina, Nwakali, Ndidi, Aribo; Chidera Ejuke, Iwobi, Iheanacho
Egypt
El-Shennawy; Daoud, Hegazi, Fatouh, Ashraf; Fathi, El-Sulya, Elneny; Mohamed, Sherif, Salah
PREDICTIONS;
We at betBonanza are giving the Super Eagles of Nigeria a 50% chance of victory, as well as tipping the Egyptians with also a 50% chance of victory