The Super Eagles are coming on a back drop of a 3-1 victory over Seychelles in their final AFCON 2019 qualifying game.
The three-time African champions will be taking on Egypt in an international friendly at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
Nigerian striker and Al Nassr star Ahmed has joined the list of stars missing for the encounter slated for Tuesday, March 26.
Middlesbrough star John Mikel Obi, Liverpool striker Mohamed Salahand and Huddersfield forward Ramadan Sobhi notable absentees missing for the fixture.
The last four meetings between Nigeria and the Pharaoh of Egypt have ended in three wins and a draw for the North Africans, leaving the Super Eagles without a victory.
01’ — Kickoff
GOOOOOAAAAAAL!
Captain Troost-Ekong introducing his players to the officials before the match. Photo Credit. Emmanuel oshodi
Source: Original
01’ — Newcomer scores on his second game for Nigeria
Paul Onuachu scores inside 20 seconds from kickoff after the six-foot-plus striker beats a defender and takes a first time volley which flew past the goalkeeper. 1-0 to Nigeria.
Super Eagles players celebrate Paul Onuachu's goal. Photo Credit: Emmanuel Oshodi
Source: UGC
03’ — Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
What a start from the Nigerian team as the Pharaoh's have been caught unawares in the very first attack in the match.
05’ — Egypt trying to regroup
The Egyptians are trying to settle into the match but the Super Eagles are closing the gap from the midfield.
07’ — Egypt taking the game seriously
The Pharaoh's have much of the possession but can not penetrate the Nigerian defence as they are forced to start from scratch.
09’ — CHANCE!
Onuachu flicks it on for Iwobi but a defensive clearance from Egypt concedes a corner kick to Nigeria. Corner taken but Ndidi did not get the right connection with ball. Easy catch for the goalkeeper.
12’ — Nigeria wins second corner
Onuachu forces an error from the Egyptian defence for a corner. Ndidi again could not reach Moses Simon's cross because there was too much height on the ball.
14’ — Daniel Akpeyi with an easy catch
Egypt had a corner but Akpeyi comes out and collects in his first easy save of the match.
16’ — Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
The seven-time African champions still don't know what hit them as they try to recover from the early shock.
18’ — Egypt enjoying much of the possession
Egypt passing the ball around beautifully as every Nigerian player have returned back into their own half. They are aware of the danger.
20’ — A free kick in a dangerous position for Egypt
Tricky free kick to Egypt and it's floated into the Nigerian box but Akpeyi comes out with an easy catch and wins a free kick in the process.
21’ — Terrible tackle on Onuachu
The Egyptian defender rams into the Nigerian striker as he stays on the ground for medical attention. The FC Midtjylland striker has been a torn in the flesh of the Egyptians.
27’ — Iwobi's showmanship
Iwobi shows brilliant piece of skills as he passes to Simon on the right but the Egyptian defender reads him well to intercept the ball.
29’ — Iwobi's Chance
Iwobi pounces on a mistake but he did not make the right contact with the ball as the keeper catches.
32’ — YELLOW CARD!
The first caution of the match comes to an Egyptian after colliding with Troost-Ekong as his protests to the referee falls on deaf ears. Players take water break to cool off the heat.
35’ — Leon Balogun also cautioned
The Brighton defender is shown a yellow card but it's not clear what his offense is.
37’ — Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
The Super Eagles still have the advantage in the match.
39’ — Nigeria asking questions
Iwobi simply getting into his game as he dribbles, distributes as the Nigerian team dominate possession and the fans are loving every bit of it.
43’ — Nigerian side teasing the Egyptians
The Super Eagles are passing the ball around beautifully as Simon wins a free kick from a provoked Egyptian.
45’ — Half time
Referee blows the half time whistle and Gernot Rohr will be happy with the performance of the Super Eagles.
45’ — Two extra minutes will be added
Nigeria still keeping possession to run down the clock as Troost-Ekong's long ball has been intercepted by the Egyptians.
46’ — SUBSTITUTION!
Ikechukwu Ezenwa comes in for Daniel Akpeyi. Egypt also have a change as Trezeguet comes in for 20-year-old Salah Shawadya the second 45 minutes begins.
46’ — Kickoff
The second half begins as Onuachu is involved in an aerial contest and there has been a clash of heads with an Egyptian player on the ground.
50’ — Egyptian player stretched off and substituted
Ahmed Elzarawy comes on for Allan Mahamoud.
51’ — Free kick for Nigeria
Simon delivers a cross but the goalkeeper reaches it first and a free kick is awarded to Egypt.
52’ — Onuachu breaks lose again
Onuachu wins a corner after breaking lose on the flanks but a timely intervention by Egypt as they concede the corner. Corner taken but Onuachu could not quite get a decent contact on the ball.
55’ — Egypt showing more intent
The Pharaoh's are on the ascendancy but they can't quite play the ball through the final third.
56’ — Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
The game is balanced at the moment but the scoreline favours Nigeria over Egypt.
59’ — Onyekuru wins a free kick
A free kick for Nigeria in a dangerous position. Simon takes but Onuachu could not keep his header down as the ball goes over the bar.
60’ — On the hour mark of the game
A quiet second half but the Super Eagles have created the better of the chances.
64’ — Dangerous free kick to Egypt
Egypt take a free kick on the left flank but a defensive clearance see the ball go into the Egyptian half. Injury to John Ogu as he is being attended to by the medics.
67’ — SUBSTITUTION!
Semi Ajayi comes in for John Ogu.
69’ — Offside
Egypt make a promising attack but the linesman spots a player in an offside position to the relief of the Nigerian team.
70’ — Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
20 minutes left to play as Egypt press forward to get an equalizer.
73’ — CHANCE!
Onyekuru nutmegs two defenders and lays it down for Iwobi but the Arsenal man's shot was blocked. That could have resulted into another goal, credit to the Egyptian defender with the timely intervention.
75’ — Onuachu wins a free kick in a promising position
The tall Nigeria figure wins a free kick just outside of the 18-yard box. Simon takes it over the wall but it seems to have taken a slight deflection as the Keeper gets an easy catch.
80’ — Balogun brilliant defending
Leon Balogun does absolutely well in what suppose to be a goal for Egypt but a wonderful piece of defending from the Brighton player forces the ball to a goal-kick to Nigeria.
81’ — Ezenwa with a double save
Fantastic save from Ezenwa as he leaps to save a rising shot from an Egyptian and recovers to make another from the follow up.
90’ — Four minutes will be added
Nigeria close getting a win against the Egyptians for the first time in five matches. Onuachu's goal still makes the difference.
90’ — Egypt not going down without a fight yet
Egypt takes a free kick but the referee's assistant calls for a foul as Nigeria makes a substitution. Moses Simon comes off for Enyimba star Ikouwem.
90’ — Final whistle, Nigeria wins by 1-0
The referee has had enough of the late drama as he blows his final whistle. The Fans at Asaba are satisfied with the result so as the players and team officials. It 1-0 to Nigeria.
Source: Legit.ng