Nigeria 1 – 0 Egypt
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.
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.
More to follow…
Nigeria fans celebrate their opener
What’s next?
Live AFCON
Saturday 15th January 5:15pm
Nigeria take on Sudan on Saturday; kick-off is at 4pm with live on Sky Sports Football from 5.15pm.
Egypt take on Guinea-Bissau at 7pm on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Football.
Live AFCON
Saturday 15th January 6:55pm
Sky Sports to show AFCON live
The Africa Cup of Nations tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in January and February.
The tournament, originally scheduled to be played in June and July 2021, will be played in Cameroon between January 9 and February 6, 2022, with Sky Sports showing all 52 games live.
Twenty-four teams will take part, kicking off on January 9 as hosts Cameroon host Burkina Faso in Yaounde, before culminating in the final on February 6 in the capital.
