MO SALAH’S Egypt have been defeated in their AFCON opener by Nigeria 1-0 after a stunner from Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho.
The Foxes striker lashed home the only goal of the game after 30 mins as Egypt – the most decorated team in Africa Cup of Nations history – failed to impress in Cameroon.
- Result: Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
- Egypt XI: El Shenawy; Hegazy, Hamdy, Fathi; Tawfik, Mohamed, Elneny, Fattoh; Trezeguet, Salah, Marmoush.
- Nigeria XI: Okoye; Aina, Troost-Ekong, Omeruo, Sanusi; Ndidi, Aribo, Iheanacho; Chukwueze, Awoniyi, Simon.
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Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
Leicester fan Gary Lineker hailing Kelechi Iheanacho for his goal this afternoon.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
Kelechi Iheanacho has now scored 12 goals in 39 games for his country.
However, today was his first in a major competition for Nigeria. Important.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
Egypt’s remaining group games. They are now huge in their bid to qualify for the knockout stages.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
Super Eagles soaring.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
The final match of today sees the other two sides in Group D face off as Guinea-Bissau take on Sudan.
Neither side will be expecting to go through given Nigeria and Egypt are in with them. But a win for either side will pile the pressure on Egypt following their defeat today.
Guinea-Bissau vs Sudan (7pm GMT)
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
A reminder of the winning goal this afternoon.
What a strike it was from Leicester and Nigeria marksman Kelechi Iheanacho.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
Not his finest hour.
Salah had one big change for Egypt today but was thwarted by the legs of keeper Okoye.
He’ll need to pick himself up and go again when Egypt take on Guinea-Bissau on Saturday.
Credit: AFP Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
Worth remembering that is Egypt’s first Africa Cup of Nations group stage defeat for 17 years!
Some performance from Nigeria to end a run like that.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
Nigeria kicking off their campaign in winning style. A day to forget for Mohamed Salah.
FULL-TIME: Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
That’s it! Nigeria upset Egypt in the opening game of Group D. Kelechi Iheanacho’s first half strike proves enough to hand them all three points!
A superb display from the Super Eagles! Torrid stuff from Egypt.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
90+3 mins: Nigeria almost seal the victory! Ejuke uses his pace to fly past his marker but El Shenawy is equal to it!
Corner to Nigeria. They will run the clock down here.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
90+2 mins: We are halfway through four stoppage time minutes.
The ball drops to Salah on the edge of the box but it’s nicked away from him as he looks to burst beyond Troost-Ekong.
Salah then drifts out to the left and chips a dangerous-looking cross into the six-yard box but no-one is there.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
90+1 mins: Everton’s Alex Iwobi comes in for the last moments. He replaces Moses Simon – probably my Player of the Match. Tormented the Egyptian defence all afternoon.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
90 mins: Ashraf’s cross is deflected out for an Egypt corner.
Mohamed Sherif is on for Egypt as he replaces hamdy. One final roll of the dice.
The corner comes to nothing. Another minute ticks down.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
88 mins: Egypt send a throw into the box and it finds its way to Salah. He holds it up but there are four Nigerian shirts circled around him and eventually he relinquishes possession.
Not been Salah’s day. Not been Egypt’s day.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
86 mins: Nigeria do not look phased heading into the final stages of this one. They are not hanging on. They are not running down the clock. They are simply staying in their defensive block and breaking out when they win the ball.
No real concerted pressure from Carlos Queiroz’s Egypt side.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
84 mins: Egypt have a corner which is floated to the back post when Hegazy waits.
He controls the ball and sends a looping cross in. It looks for a moment as if it’s going to look Okoye but ends up on the roof of the net!
A tame effort but probably about as close as Egypt have come in the last 20 minutes.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
Here was Iheanacho missing the chance to score a second of the game.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
82 mins: Ajayi runs straight over to mark Mohamed Salah.
Meanwhile, a VAR penalty check takes a little while to decide that Egypt are not deserving of one. Monem went down but there was very little contact.
Eight minutes of normal time remain. There is little in the way of Egypt pressure.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
80 mins: SUB! Another sub for Nigeria. The goalscorer Iheanacho is replaced by Kelechi Nwakali.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
80 mins: SUB! Not good news for Nigeria. Omeruo has been stretchered off here. Not clear what happened but it was in the melay from that scrappy corner.
West Brom defender Semi Ajayi is on as his replacement.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
78 mins: Another chance for Nigeria! Chidera Ejuke has only come on for Chukwueze seconds ago and he nearly makes an instant impact!
He drives down the right before rifling a shot into the midriff of El Shenawy.
Nigeria look for likely to get a second than Egypt are to equalise.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
76 mins: Egypt have made four of their five changes. Mo Salah has had a good opportunity. Is it just not their day?
You have to say Nigeria have undoubtedly been the better side.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
74 mins: Iheanacho bursts into the left channel but the pass is a little beyond him. Nigeria corner.
Simon delivers it and El Shenawy misses it! It’s half cleared by Egypt before they eventually scramble it away.
Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
72 mins: OH THAT WAS THE CHANCE FOR SALAH!
He times his run brilliantly and Monem finds him in between the centre-halves. It’s stuck under his feet a little but he still manages to get the shot off, only for the legs of Okoye to deny the Egypt captain.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
