Nigeria’s international friendly with Egypt next week Tuesday will not be recorded as part of the next FIFA monthly rankings, as it has been reduced to an ‘unofficial status.’
Sports247 gathered that the reduced status for the game became necessary due to its postponement from the original date of December 14th, which was no longer feasible due to a shift in the deadline date for African players in Europe to join their national teams.
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With the new deadline now fixed on December 15th, officials of both countries reckoned that many players may still not arrive in their respective national team camps until two days later.
Doubts over the availability of many star players for both teams meant the new date of December 16th for the friendly in Cairo might still not be competitive enough.
It was also acknowledged that, being less than a week to the kick-off at AFCON 2025, it also means both sides would have to play safe in the encounter, thereby further watering down its competitive values.
Consequently, a statement by the information department of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that Tuesday’s game will now ‘be a practice match in order to allow the two teams to make use of more than five substitutes.’
Sports247 gathered further that the game, which will start at 7pm Nigeria time inside Cairo Stadium, will help the Super Eagles prepare for their Group C battle with 2004 champions Tunisia, who beat them in the round of 16 at AFCON 2021.
Nigeria’s first match at AFCON 2025 will, however, be on December 23rd against Tanzania at Complexe Sportif de Fes, where they will also tackle Tunisia on December 27th and Uganda on December 30th.
