Egypt line up high-profile friendly against Nigeria ahead of AFCON 2025

The Pharaohs of Egypt will be involved in a high-profile friendly against Nigeria ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

The two top African giants will lock horns at the Cairo International Stadium on December 14, as part of preparation for the AFCON, to be staged in Morocco.

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan is said to have requested for the friendly against Nigeria as the side gear up for the much-anticipated AFCON tournament.

With the Egyptian Football Association confirming the friendly on Sunday, the Nigeria Football Federation has yet to officially announce the fixture.

The match is highly anticipated as it will feature a face-off between two of Africa’s leading forwards, Victor Osimhen and Mohamed Salah. Both stars are chasing the elusive AFCON trophy, the one major honour missing from their collections.

Salah, 33, the Liverpool icon and twice African Footballer of the Year (2017, 2018), has been Egypt’s main man for almost a decade. Despite being the only Egyptian to score in four consecutive AFCON tournaments, he has twice finished as a runner-up. The 2025 tournament could be his “final shot at glory with the Pharaohs.”

On the Nigerian side, 2023 African Player of the Year, Osimhen, is the centerpiece of the “modern footballing generation.” The Napoli striker helped the Super Eagles reach the AFCON 2023 final and sees 2025 as a “mission” to “end Nigeria’s 12-year wait for a continental title.”

This December friendly will be a new chapter in their rivalry. Historically, Nigeria has an edge in 19 meetings, winning nine to Egypt’s five. Furthermore, the Super Eagles are undefeated in their previous four friendlies against the Pharaohs.

Before the Cairo match, however, Nigeria faces a tough World Cup qualifying playoff in November. Meanwhile, Egypt, already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, is featuring in the UAE International Tournament in November.