As Nigeria get set to take on Egypt in Group D’s opening game in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, Goal examines how the Super Eagles have fared against the North Africans in the competition in the past.
This is the first time the two teams met in Africa Cup of Nations history – albeit, it ended on a sour note for the West Africans as they were obliterated at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.
Incidentally, that game was Nigeria’s debut in the championship after many years out in the cold.
In the nine-goal thriller, the Pharaohs took the lead in the 30th minute through Mohamed Hussein who doubled the advantage two minutes later.
This was followed by a brace by Hassan Ahmed El Shazly in the goal-laden first half. Not willing to go down without a fight Jorge Augusto Pena’s Eagles reduced the deficit through Asuquo Ekpe in the 78th minute. That spurred Egypt who added two more goals as Hussein and El Shazly completed their trebles.
Late goals from Joseph Bassey and Albert Onyeawuna ensured the West African kept the scoreline respectable.
The Super Eagles had to wait for 17 years before taking on the North Africans in the competition again.
This time, the battleground was the National Stadium, Lagos as Nigeria hosted the rest of Africa for the first time. With revenge on Otto Gloria’s mind, they subdued Egypt 1-0 with Okey Isima’s 15th-minute encounter settling the keenly contested affair against Abdel Monem El-Hajj’s team. Inspired by names like Segun Odegbami and Christian Chukwu, Nigeria went ahead to win the competition for the first time.
The Super Eagles’ good run against the Pharaohs continued during the 1984 Afcon staged in Cote d’Ivoire.
Having qualified from Group B as runners-up, Festus Onigbinde’s men must negotiate their way past Saleh El Wahsh’s side that finished as Group A winners to reach the final. Imad Sulaiman got Egypt to a flying start in the semi-final clash held at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan with his 25th-minute strike before Amer Taher Abou Zeid doubled the lead 13 minutes later.
Two minutes before the half-time break, Stephen Keshi reduced the deficit from the penalty mark while Ali Bala levelled matters 15 minutes from full-time.
Unable to separate them after extra time, kicks from the penalty marks were used to decide the winner. Onigbinde’s side progressed 8-7 on penalties after Mahmoud Hassan and Ibrahim Youssef missed their kicks.
For the first time in the biennial African football showpiece, the two teams settled for a 0-0 draw. With the Super Eagles already assured of a place in the knockout place, they locked horns with the North Africans in their last Group B fixture. And after 90 minutes of good football artistry at the Stade Moulay Abdellah, Rabat, the match ended scoreless and that saw the Egyptians bow out from the tournament early.
Nigeria and Egypt met for the fifth time in Afcon history.
After losing 3-1 to Cote d’Ivoire in their opening game in Algeria, the Pharaohs needed to defeat the West Africans to have chance of qualifying.
That did not happen, unfortunately for them, as they bowed to the Super Eagles by a lone goal, with Rasheed Yekini deciding the outcome in the third minute at the Stade 5 Juillet 1962, Algiers.
En route to becoming African champions for the second time, Nigeria took on their North African nemesis in their last Group B encounter.
Despite the pre-match hype, the game ended goalless at the Stade El Menzah, Tunis.
After failed attempts to get past the West Africans in previous Afcon meetings, Egypt final got their breakthrough in Angola 2010.
In the opening Group C match in Benguela, the North Africans recorded a 3-1 comeback triumph against Shaibu Amodu’s team.
It was looking like business as usual for the Super Eagles who took a 12th minute lead through Chinedu Obasi’s beauty.
However, the Egyptians levelled matters in the 34th minute through Emad Moteab. They took the lead courtesy of Ahmed Hassan in the 54th minute, while Mohamed Gedo confirmed victory with his effort three minutes from full-time.