The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has issued a new date for the pre AFCON friendly game against Egypt owing to a decision by FIFA that clubs can hold on to their players until 15th of December, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Nigeria were supposed to play the tune up game against Egypt on the 14th of December, but the decision by world football governing body means the game will now hold on Tuesday, 16th December.
“Aside from the postponement, the game will now be a practice match in order to allow the two teams to make use of more than five substitutes in the encounter, which will kick off at 8pm Egypt time (7pm Nigeria time) at the Cairo Stadium”, the statement from the NFF confirms.
It means the game won’t count as an official game for both teams because FIFA allows for a minimum of five substitutes in games between member nations for it to be recognised.
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 Fes, where they will also tackle Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles (Saturday, 27 December) and the Cranes of Uganda (Tuesday, 30 December).
Egypt 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 at the Stade d’Agadir.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
