Egypt vs Nigeria: CAN Match Forecast

The Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) is set for an exciting matchup as Egypt faces Nigeria in the third-place playoff. Both teams reached this stage after competitive semifinal matches, where Egypt was narrowly defeated by Senegal 1-0, and Nigeria lost to Morocco after a goalless draw, succumbing to penalties.

Team Performance in the Tournament

During the group stage, both Egypt and Nigeria displayed strong performances. Egypt led Group B, earning 7 points from two victories and one draw. They secured wins against Zimbabwe (2-1) and South Africa (1-0), finishing their group campaign with a goalless draw against Angola.

Nigeria topped their group with an impressive 9 points, winning all three of their matches. They defeated Tanzania (2-1), Tunisia (3-2), and Uganda (3-1), showcasing their offensive prowess.

Knockout Stage Highlights

In the knockout rounds, Egypt continued to deliver strong performances. They defeated Benin (3-1) in the round of 16 and pulled off a surprising win against Ivory Coast (3-2) in the quarterfinals. However, their journey was halted by Senegal in the semifinals.

Nigeria also performed admirably in the knockout stages. They overwhelmed Mozambique (4-0) in the round of 16 and beat Algeria (2-0) in the quarterfinals. Despite their solid showing, they were edged out by Morocco in the semifinals after a penalty shootout.

Injuries and Player Highlights

Egypt will be without key player Mohamed Hamdi, who is sidelined due to a severe knee injury. Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah, who has scored 4 goals, aims to finish as the tournament’s top scorer, currently trailing only behind Brahim Díaz, who has netted 5 goals.

Nigeria will field a full-strength squad with no last-minute injuries. Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are vying for the top scorer position as well, with Osimhen also having scored 4 goals and contributing 2 assists.

Projected Lineups

• Egypt’s Likely Starting XI:
  • El-Shenawy
  • Ibrahim
  • Abdelmaguid
  • Rabia
  • Hany
  • Attia
  • Fathy
  • Abou El Fotouh
  • Ashora
  • Salah
• Nigeria’s Likely Starting XI:
  • Nwabali
  • Osayi-Samuel
  • Ajayi
  • Bassey
  • Onyemaechi
  • Onyeka
  • Onyedika
  • Iwobi
  • Lookman
  • Adams
  • Osimhen

Match Prediction

Given Nigeria’s overall performance throughout the tournament, they appear to be the favorites for this encounter. With both teams eager to secure the bronze medal, the clash promises to be a thrilling contest. El-Balad predicts Nigeria will secure third place over Egypt in this important match.