Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi welcomes a friendly match with Egypt in April, while both sides are preparing for the 2013 African Nations Cup qualifiers.

Upon request from American coach Bob Bradley, Egypt’s Football Association (EFA) sent a letter to their Nigerian counterparts asking to arrange a friendly on 12 April.

"Playing Egypt in a friendly will be a good test, because it's all about preparing the team,” Keshi was quoted as saying by Kickoff.com on Tuesday.

The Pharaohs are holding a training camp in Sudan where they will play two games against Uganda and Chad.

"We are waiting for the approval from the Nigerian Football Association. Playing Nigeria will be a great benefit, since it is one of the best teams in Africa," EFA spokesman Azmy Megahed told Ahram Online Sports section two days ago.

In preparation for the upcoming African Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers, Bradley is likely to face a stiff challenge to prepare his side for these vital commitments, given the lack of domestic competitions since a match ended disastrously with more than 70 fans killed in the Port Said stadium in February.

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