It will be a tough test for the Pharaohs, who will begin their Nations Cup campaign on Monday, 22 December, against Zimbabwe.
The Pharaohs have been drawn into Group B of the continental competition, which will be held in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January, alongside Zimbabwe, Angola, and South Africa.
This friendly will provide a valuable opportunity for Egypt's coach, Hossam Hassan, to test his squad against a tough opponent like Nigeria, runners-up of the previous edition of the AFCON.
Despite a shock exit in the World Cup qualifiers—where they failed to secure one of Africa's nine spots for the World tournament—the Super Eagles remain one of the continent's classic heavyweights.
Egypt, on the other hand, struggled in the UAE International tournament in November, failing to secure a win.
They lost to Uzbekistan and then defeated Cape Verde 2-0 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
The team’s performance, particularly in defense, came under heavy criticism, raising concerns about their prospects in the Nations Cup.
In light of this, Hossam Hassan will be hoping for a strong performance against Nigeria to boost his team's confidence heading into the continental competition.
The participation of Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush and Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah remains uncertain, as both missed the final training session on Monday ahead of the match.
Ahly winger Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan and Al-Jazira winger Ibrahim Adel will miss the game due to minor injuries but they will be fit to play against Zimbabwe in the group opener.
However, all other players are available, with Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed, Al-Ain defender Rami Rabia, and the Pyramids FC quartet—Mostafa Fathi, Ahmed El-Shennawy, Mohanad Lasheen, and Mohamed Hamdi—all joining the Pharaohs' camp on Monday.
In terms of head-to-head statistics, Nigeria holds a slight edge over Egypt, having won six of the 18 encounters between the two nations.
Egypt have won five times, with seven matches ending in draws.
The last meeting between the sides took place in March 2019, when Egypt lost 1-0 in a friendly at Stephen Keshi Stadium in Nigeria.
Following Tuesday’s match, the Pharaohs will head to Morocco just hours later, as they begin their bid for an eighth continental title—and their first since 2010.
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