MO SALAH’S Egypt kick off their AFCON 2022 campaign this afternoon against Nigeria in Cameroon.
Egypt are the most decorated team in Africa Cup of Nations history, having won the tournament a record seven times.
Although, they not won the competition since 2010.
There is some Premier League interest in the Pharoahs manager too – former Manchester United assistant Carlos Quieroz.
- Kick-off: 4pm GMT
- TV/ live stream: Sky Sports Main Event, BBC Red Button/ iPlayer (free)
- 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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Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
Nigeria 0-0 Egypt
8 mins: Tawsik is still down and receiving treatment. He didn’t actually go down from a foul, he simply got twisted up when Simon checked back inside onto his right foot.
He’s back to his feet now but then goes off the pitch to receive some more treatment. Not sure he will be able to continue. We shall see.
Play resumes.
Nigeria 0-0 Egypt
6 mins: Egypt break forward with pace as Mohamed drives down the right-hand side before letting fly from a tight angle. It’s a comfortable save for Rotterdam keeper Okoye but we’ve had our first shot on goal of the match.
Salah then gets his first touch of the ball inside his own half before Tawfik wins a free-kick for Egypt. And he’s not getting up…
Nigeria 0-0 Egypt
4 mins: Troost-Ekong tries a direct ball over the top for Awoniyi but it’s cut out by Hegazy on the stretch.
Awoniyi then pinches it away from Sanusi and looks to drive into the box but he can’t quite get control of the ball and eventually Egypt win a free-kick.
Nigeria 0-0 Egypt
2 mins: A very enjoyable punt into touch from kick-off by Egypt. Proper rugby stuff.
Early possession for Egypt as they feel their way into the game. Egypt in red shirts and white shorts. Nigeria in a dark blue/black shirt and dark shorts.
KICK-OFF: Nigeria 0-0 Egypt
1 min: Here we go then!
Can Nigeria end Egypt’s 17-year unbeaten run in the Africa Cup of Nations group stages?
Nigeria vs Egypt
The warm-ups are all done. Nigeria coach Augustine Eguavoen and Egypt manager Carlos Queiroz will be giving their final words of encouragement.
It’s almost time for the start of Nigeria and Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations campaigns!
Nigeria vs Egypt
Right, so one more reminder of the teams 10 minutes before we get underway. Let’s show you in a more visual way this time…
Nigeria captain Musa on opening game
Nigeria captain Ahmed Musa – who has 103 caps for his country – remains confident despite his side being the underdogs against Egypt.
Speaking ahead of the game, he said: “We consider that we are ready.
“We are just waiting for tomorrow and hopefully we are going to end up until the final and win the cup.”
Nigeria vs Egypt
Less than 20 minutes until kick-off, who else is excited for this one?
Two of Africa’s biggest sides go head to head in a mouthwatering group stage clash.
Elneny a stalwart for Egypt
Enough chat about Mo Salah, Mohamed Elneny actually has nine more caps for his country than the Liverpool forward.
The Arsenal man will earn his 85th cap for his country today as he bids to command the midfield alongside Mostafa Mohamed.
No player starting the game has more international experience than Elneny. Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa is the only player in either squad with more caps – 103.
Nigeria vs Egypt – Iheanacho in midfield?!
There’s a real clash of styles going on when it comes to how the two sides have lined up.
The way the team sheets have come out indicate Nigeria will be playing a 4-3-3, while Egypt seem to have gone with a 3-4-2-1.
Kelechi Iheanacho has been put on the right of a midfield three for Nigeria – a rather bizarre move if you ask me.
Mo Salah is in his usual position off the right-hand side of the striker.
Nigeria without Ighalo and Dennis
Worth remembering that Odion Ighalo and Emmanuel Dennis have both not joined up with the Nigeria squad for the tournament.
Dennis, in particular, has been in sensational form for Watford so far this season.
But Nigeria accused the Hornets of ‘baring fangs’ after it was confirmed he would not be a part of the national team squad for the Cup of Nations.
Salah on Nigeria
Mo Salah is well aware of the threat Nigeria pose to Egypt this afternoon.
Speaking ahead of the match, he said: “I think they (Nigeria) are a dangerous team.
“I don’t think we are the favourites (to win) this tournament, but we do our best to win it.
“We have a good coach, a good team, a very good group.”
Mo Salah in the house
Mo Salah is raring to go ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. Can Nigeria stop him in his tracks today?
Credit: AFP Egypt team to play Nigeria
Egypt XI (3-4-2-1): El Shenawy; Hegazy, Hamdy, Fathi; Tawfik, Mohamed, Elneny, Fattoh; Trezeguet, Salah, Marmoush.
Subs: Monem, Wahed, Ashour, Sherif, Sobhi, Ashraf, Lasheen, Said, Alaa, Sayed, Sobhy, Gad.
Nigeria team to play Egypt
Nigeria XI (4-3-3): Okoye; Aina, Troost-Ekong, Omeruo, Sanusi; Ndidi, Aribo, Iheanacho; Chukwueze, Awoniyi, Simon.
Subs: Ajayi, Musa, Onyeka, Onyekuru, Ejuke, Akpeyi, Iwobi, Ebuehi, Uzoho, Sadiq, Nwakali, Ndah.
Algeria 0-0 Sierra Leone
We’ve had our first goalless draw of the tournament and thank the lord it’s not a game I’m covering!
Pre-tournament favourites Algeria have been held by Sierra Leone in their opening group game of the Africa Cup of Nations. Bit of a surprise, that one.
None of the games have seen more than one goal since Cameroon beat Burkina Faso in the opener on Sunday.
Mark my words: that is changing in this next game.
Mo Salah: Egypt’s golden boy
Mohamed Salah is not just Liverpool’s superstar forward – he is also the Egypt national team’s talisman.
The 29-year-old has scored 45 goals in 73 appearances for his country – a remarkable return.
No one would bet against him adding to that tally today.
Who will win the tournament?
So, the two sides today will both be hoping they can lift the trophy at the end of the Africa Cup of Nations.
But who are the favourites?
Here are the current odds:
- Senegal 10/3
- Algeria 4/1
- Egypt 8/1
- Ivory Coast 8/1
- Cameroon 8/1
- Morocco 9/1
- Nigeria 12/1
- Ghana 20/1
- Tunisia 20/1
English-based players in Egypt
And here are the Egypt internationals who play their club football in England.
- Trezeguet (Aston Villa)
- Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
English-based players in Nigeria’s squad
Who will English fans know from the Nigeria squad? Here are those who play their club football in England.
- William Troost-Ekong (Watford)
- Semi Ajayi (West Brom)
- Alex Iwobi (Everton)
- Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester)
- Frank Onyeka (Brentford)
- Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester)
Can Nigeria overcome Egypt hoodoo?
Nigeria have actually beaten Egypt eight times and only lost five times in their head-to-head history.
However, in recent times the Egyptians have undoubtedly got their African counterparts’ number.
The nations have met three times at the Cup of Nations over the past 11 years – with Egypt winning twice and the other ending in a goalless draw.
Nigeria have also scored just one goal against Egypt at the AFCON since 1990.
Good afternoon AFCON fans
Welcome or welcome back to coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations!
We are now a few days into the tournament and beginning to get a feel for how each team could fair when it comes down to the latter stages.
Yesterday, I was on Morocco vs Ghana duties and, I’ll be honest, it wasn’t a classic. We did get one goal as Sofiane Boufal handed Morocco the victory late on. But other than that it was one to forget.
However, today we have a mouthwatering prospect coming up in a little over an hour as Nigeria and Egypt clash in their AFCON opener.
It’s the Mo Salah vs Kelechi Iheanacho derby. Bring it on!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
