With 3 points in the bag after a nervy 3-2 win over Mali in their first group game, the Dream Team will seek another win to ensure a place in the semi-final and one step towards a ticket for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Egypt and Nigeria were in the same group at the All Africa Games in Congo in September, but the Pharaohs pulled out of the football event at the last minute. Nigeria went on to win the bronze medal at the Africa sports festival.
The Dream Teams' start was less than dreamy
Wednesday’s game will see the two sides finally come head to head in what might be a dress rehearsal for the double header between both countries when the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers resume March next year
Match background
Nigeria come into the game knowing a win will guarantee passage into the semi-final while Egypt, with just a point, want to add to that to improve her chances of qualifying to the next round.
Coach Samson Siasia might make some changes to his line up which conceded two goals in the second half [ above game clip ] as Zaharadeen Bello, who looked out of sorts against Mali, is likely to be replaced by Chizoba Amaefule.
Egypt had to fight back from a goal down to draw with Algeria and they know a repeat performance like they did against Le Fennecs will spell doom for them especially against a fast and nippy Nigerian forward line.
Matches played so far in Group B
*Nigeria 3 Mali 2
*Egypt 1 Algeria 1
*Nigeria top the group with 3 points. Egypt and Algeria are joint second with a point each while Mali is at the basement.
Players to watch:
Egypt
Mustapha Fathy- One of the big hopes of Egyptian football who has cemented his place at Zamalek since breaking into the squad.
The talented midfielder is blessed with vision and technical skills which has seen him grow in leaps and bounds over the few years.
He also scores goals too from his midfield position and he will be a constant menace to Nigeria when the two teams clash.
Nigeria
Usman Mohammed- The FC Taraba midfielder has already been called up to the full Nigeria side by Sunday Oliseh-which points to his potentials.
The perfect link between the defence and midfield, Mohammed has won a lot of admirers with his style of play and his work-rate on the pitch.
He has already opened his goals account a the U23 Africa Cup of Nations with a fine finish in the game against Mali on match day one.
What they said:
"It will be a tough game for the two sides because both teams feature a variety of highly skilled players, as well as the game is the second of the group.
"The match will be difficult for us, we will seek to enhance our chances to get to the semi-finals, and go all the way in search of a ticket to qualify for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro." Hossam Al-Badri, Egypt coach.
"Our target tomorrow is to go all out and attack, attack, attack, because that is our strong point, then we will work on our defence line, so that we don't give out cheap and easy passes to our opponents.” Samson Siasia, Nigeria coach
Nigeria:
Goalkeepers:Emmanuel Daniel, Yusuf Mohammed, Emmanuel Iwu
Defenders: Segun Oduduwa, Sincere Seth, Chukwuebuka Iroha, Amaefule Chizoba, Zaharadeen Bello
Midfielders: Azubuike Okechukwu, Stanley Dimgba, Bature Yaro, Seun Olulayo, Ndifreke Effiong, Tiongoli Tonbara, Usman Mohammed
Attackers: Taiwo Awoniyi, Junior Ajayi, Godspower Enefiok, Oghenekaro Etebo, Victor Osimhen, Kufre Ebong
Egypt
Goalkeepers: Hassan Mahmoud Ramadan Shahin, Mahmoud Hamdyahmed Aly, Mossad Awad Mossad
Defenders: Mahmoud Hamdy Mahmoud Hamouda Attia, Mohamed Adel Mohamed Gomaa, Mohamed Hany Gamal, Osama Ibrahim Abddala Mouersy Abdalla, Ragab Nabil Deebes Abdelnabi, Yasser Ahmed Ibrahim El Hanafi
Midfielders: Karim Waleed Sayed Saleh Hassan, Mamdouh Khaled Mamdouh Abdelmegid Elsayed, Mohamed Ashraf Mohamed Tawfik Aly Saleh, Mohamed Fathi Mahmoud Mohamed, Mohamed Hamdy Mahmoud Sharf Edin,Ramy Hisham Abdel Aziz Moustafa
Attackers: Hussein Ragab Abdelmohsen Ali Elkelfat, Mahmoud Abdelmonem Ablehamid Soliman, Mahmoud Elmetwaly Mohamed Mansour, Mohamed Salem Aly Abdelkhader, Mostafa Mohamed Fathi Abd El Hamid, Ramadan Sobhi Ramadan Ahmed
The match will be live on SuperSport, 7pm, Nigeria time.
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