Nigeria suffered a 2–1 friendly defeat to Egypt in their final preparations for the AFCON 2025 tournament, with Mostafa Mohamed’s second-half strike sealing victory for the Pharaohs. Mahmoud Saber had earlier put Egypt ahead before Chidozie Awaziem equalised for the Super Eagles before halftime, but Eric Chelle’s side could not avoid a second straight loss heading into their tournament opener against Tanzania, raising fresh concerns over team balance and finishing.

Both teams approached the friendly with heavily rotated lineups. Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle rested several key players, including Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi, opting instead for a second-string side led in attack by Paul Onuachu. Chidera Ejuke provided width from midfield, while the central defence paired Igoh Ogbu with Nantes defender Chidozie Awaziem. Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan also left out Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, with Zizo emerging as the game’s standout performer after supplying assists for both goals.

Egypt opened the scoring inside the first 30 minutes following a swift attacking move involving Mohamed Hany and Zizo. The Al Ahly full-back slipped a precise pass into space for Zizo, who squared the ball for Mahmoud Saber to tap into an unguarded net. Nigeria responded with increased urgency late in the half, eventually earning a free-kick on the left edge of the penalty area. Zaidu Sanusi’s delivery caused confusion in the Egyptian defence, and goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy spilled the ball, allowing Awaziem to head home an equaliser and restore parity before the break.

The decisive moment arrived less than ten minutes into the second half when Egypt reclaimed the lead under controversial circumstances. Zizo appeared to beat Nigeria’s offside trap before setting up Mostafa Mohamed, whose fierce strike beat Amas Obasogie, the goalkeeper introduced at halftime in place of Stanley Nwabali. Egypt managed the remainder of the match effectively, securing their first win over Nigeria since the 2016 AFCON qualifiers and maintaining tactical discipline until the final whistle.

The result once again highlighted Nigeria’s struggles in the absence of Victor Osimhen. The Super Eagles have now failed to win any of the five competitive matches Osimhen missed during recent World Cup qualifiers, a run that ultimately contributed to their failure to secure qualification. As preparations continue under the Nigeria Football Federation, the defeat reinforces lingering questions about attacking efficiency and reliance on star personnel ahead of AFCON 2025.