Nigeria vs Egypt Prediction, Preview, Predicted Lineups & Team News | African U-20 Cup of Nations

Nigeria vs Egypt Preview

• Competition: African U-20 Cup of Nations
• Date: Sunday, 18 May
• Kick-Off Time: 05:00 PM GMT
• Venue: 30 June Stadium

The Nigeria vs Egypt U-20 match will be played on Sunday, 18 May, as both teams will be aiming to finish third in the competition. Since both teams lost their respective semi-finals clash, they will now compete for the third position in the AFCON U-20.

The Flying Eagles were one of the favourite teams to win this competition, as they have won this competition for record seven times. They did beat the defending champions, Senegal, in a penalty shootout, but failed to book their spot in the finals as they lost to Bafana Bafana. Despite having some top-quality players on their team, they faced some issues in the final third as they missed many chances to score goals. Nigeria have this problem throughout this competition as they have a very poor conversion rate in front of the goal. Even though Egypt will play at home, they will be confident of winning this game and finishing this competition on a high note.

On the other hand, the host nation missed a golden opportunity to win this competition as they lost to Morocco by 1-0 in the semi-finals. They had a huge advantage playing at home, but Morocco was too good for them. Even though they did give their best on the pitch, they were not able to get a ticket to the final. Losing in the semifinal is a big setback, but they do have players who can get results for their team and surely the match on Sunday will be very competitive. This will be a mouthwatering clash for sure.

Nigeria Team News

They were the favourites to reach the finals of this prestigious competition, but eventually fell short against South Africa. The Flying Elges don't have any injury concerns, as they will have all the players available for the match.

Egypt Team News

The home team lost to Morocco in the semi-finals in an exciting game, but now will aim to finish their campaign on a high note. They will have a fully fit squad for the upcoming fixture as none of their players are injured or suspended.

Nigeria vs Egypt Predicted Lineups

Nigeria Predicted Lineup (4-33):

Goalkeeper: Harcourt

Defenders: Maigari, Chukwu, Bameyi, Okoro

Midfielders: Alabi, Ayuma, Oliseh

Forwards: Maigana, Arierhi, Jephta

Egypt Predicted Lineup (4-3-2-1):

Goalkeeper: Aly

Defenders: Abdel Wahab, Abdin, Boustenji, Mohamed Talaat

Midfielders: Soliman, Othman, Ahmed

Forwards: Sharaf, Goweily, Zaalouk

Nigeria vs Egypt Head-to-Head Record

Both teams have faced each other only once, in which Nigeria won the fixture.

Key Players to Watch in Nigeria vs Egypt

Israel Isaac Ayuma (Nigeria)

Ayuma is a central midfield player, but he is someone who likes to have freedom on the pitch and can create chances for his team, as well as do the dirty work for the team.

Currently, he is playing for the Croatian top division side Istra, and even though he hasn't played a lot of games, he is someone who can make an impact on the pitch. Due to his tall, lanky frame, he can run a lot and cover a lot of ground. Ayuma is good in duels and doesn't panic under pressure. Even though he is talented but a lot of work still needs to be done for his proper development.

Mohamed Zaalouk (Egypt)

Zaalouk is an academy graduate from Al Ahly, which is one of the most prestigious academies in Egypt. He is tall and very strong, a proper poacher inside the box. His involvement in the team's buildup play is very minimal, but still, he can drag defenders with him, which creates a lot of space for his teammates to exploit.

Despite being young, he has won some trophies with Al Ahly and is doing a good job with the U-20 side as well. On the field, he sometimes gets a bit frustrated when he doesn't get the ball, but his work ethic makes him stand out. Zaalouk will not get many opportunities in the upcoming fixture, and he will have to be at his best to help his team win the match.

Nigeria vs Egypt Prediction

The Flying Eagles' dream to win this competition once again broke against South Africa, but despite their heartbreaking defeat, they are clear favourites to win this match. Despite playing at home, Egypt will have to suffer in this match, as Nigeria are a bit better quality-wise. This will be a tight match for sure, but most probably Nigeria will get the third place.

Predicted Score: Nigeria 1-0 Egypt

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