FIFA rule alters Nigeria-Egypt pre-AFCON clash, game set for 16 December
The decision by world football-governing body FIFA, allowing clubs to retain their players until Monday, 15 December 2025 before releasing them for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, has necessitated the postponement of the pre-AFCON friendly between Nigeria and Egypt.
Seven-time winners Egypt and three-time winners Nigeria were originally scheduled to clash in a tune-up game in Cairo on Sunday, 14 December, in line with an earlier regulation that required players to be released earlier.
The game has now been moved to Tuesday, 16 December as a result of the regulation.
In addition to the postponement, the match will now be treated as a practice game to allow both teams to make use of more than five substitutes. The encounter will kick off at 8:00 pm Egypt time (7:00 pm Nigeria time) at Cairo Stadium.
The Super Eagles are in Group C of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals alongside 2004 champions Tunisia, 1978 runners-up Uganda, and Tanzania. Nigeria’s first match is on Tuesday, 23 December against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars at the Complexe Sportif de Fès. They will also face Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles on Saturday, 27 December, and the Cranes of Uganda on Tuesday, 30 December.
The Pharaohs, who hosted the finals in 2019, are in Group B alongside 1996 hosts and winners South Africa, 2010 hosts Angola, and Zimbabwe. Their matches will be played at the Stade d’Agadir.
