With expectations high, the Super Eagles will certainly have their hands full when they kick off their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2021) campaign tomorrow against Mohamed Salah’s inspired Pharaohs of Egypt at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua.
The three-time African champions have not been in the best of their form lately as was evidence in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Cape Verde which ended 1-1 in Lagos and shocking home defeat by less fancied the Central Africa Republic respectively.
The Pharaohs on their part have been firing high on all cylinders as witnessed in their last four 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, recording victories against Gabon, Libya, and drew away at Angola to prove their strong desire to dominate their opponents.
In the past five meetings of both teams, the Super Eagles have been on the receiving end, losing three times to the Pharaohs, drew one and won one, which gives them the underdog tag as they trade tackles against the seven-time African champions tomorrow.
However, the Super Eagles, parading a very young and promising side are unfazed by the quality of the Egyptians with captain Ahmed Musa declaring that he and his teammates are in Cameroon to fight for the title and not even the Pharaohs can stop them.
“We have had good training and we are ready for the first game against Egypt. Thank God the other players we are expecting are in camp, but we are still expecting Collins.
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“Definitely, I talk to the players because we know what is important. This tournament we know if we can win it, it’s going to have a big impact on our own country and family too.
“So, we are all ready and we know what we can do. If we give all our best, I know we can win this tournament.
“The Egyptians are a very good side but I know we have got the quality to win against them on Tuesday (tomorrow),” he said.
The Pharaoh’s head coach, Carlos Queiroz is confident that his side has the quality to be victorious against the Super Eagles when he said: I’ve picked the best team for the competition. I believe these players will be very competitive and against Nigeria, in our first game of the competition I’m hopeful of victory,” said as they departed for Cameroon.
