Kelechi Iheanacho's excellent first-half goal handed Nigeria a deserved 1-0 victory over a below-par Egypt in their Africa Cup of Nations Group D clash in Garoua on Tuesday.
2021 Africa Cup of Nations
1-0
Leicester striker Iheanacho crashed a half-volley from the edge of the box into the top corner after 30 minutes to settle the contest, but Nigeria should have added at least a couple more goals in what was the best performance by a team in the finals so far and a warning to their rivals.
Egypt failed to shift out of first gear and could not get talisman Mohamed Salah into the game. The Liverpool forward cut an isolated figure up front, starved of service and the quality around him to have an influence.
The second game in Group D will be played later on Tuesday when Sudan tackle Guinea-Bissau at the same venue.
What's next?
Nigeria take on Sudan on Saturday; kick-off is at 4pm with live on Sky Sports Football from 5.15pm.
Line-ups
Nigeria XI: Omeruo, W. Troost-Ekong, Aina, M. Simon, Ndidi, Iheanacho, T. Awoniyi, J. Ayodele-Aribo, S. Chukwueze, Z. Sanusi, M. Okoye
Subs: A. Musa, D. Akpeyi, Iwobi, S. Ajayi, F. Uzoho, T. Ebuehi, Umar, H. Onyekuru, K. Nwakali, C. Ejuke, F. Onyeka, O. Ndah
Egypt XI: Mohamed El Shenawy, Hegazi, Salah, M.Elneny, Trezeguet, Mahmoud Hamdi El Wensh, Mostafa Mohamed, Hamdi Fathi, Omar Marmoush, Ahmed Fattoh, Akram Tawfik
Subs: Abdalla El Said, Ayman Ashraf, Mahmoud Alaa , Omar Kamal, Zizo, Sobhi, Mohamed Sherif, Mohanad Lasheen, Mohamed Sobhy, Emam Ashour, Mahmoud Gad, Mohamed Abdel Monem