Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Cancel Egypt Friendly After AFCON Draw

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will no longer face Egypt in their planned international friendly, following the results of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) draw.

The two teams were originally set to clash in a double-header friendly in Cairo on February 25 and 27. However, the fixtures were called off after Nigeria and Egypt were placed in the same group for the tournament.

The draw, conducted at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) headquarters in Cairo, also placed South Africa’s Amajita and Morocco in the same group as Nigeria and Egypt.

“The Flying Eagles will no longer play the friendlies in Egypt after the draw pitched both of us in the same group,” an NFF official confirmed to SCORENigeria.

The 2025 U-20 AFCON is set to take place in Côte d’Ivoire from April 26 to May 18, where Nigeria will seek to reclaim their dominance in African youth football.

Opinion: A Smart Decision or a Missed Opportunity?

While cancelling the friendlies makes strategic sense—given that both teams will now compete against each other in the group stage of AFCON—some might argue that it’s a missed opportunity for the Flying Eagles.

International friendlies are valuable for team bonding, tactical refinement, and player assessment. Facing a strong side like Egypt ahead of the tournament could have given Nigeria’s coaching staff critical insights into their strengths and weaknesses. However, the risk of revealing tactical approaches to a direct rival likely influenced the NFF’s decision.

On the other hand, the Flying Eagles must now look for alternative friendly matches to stay match-fit and prepared for the tournament. The draw has placed them in a tough group, and without proper preparation, progressing to the knockout stages could be a challenge.

Was cancelling the friendly the right call, or should Nigeria have played Egypt regardless? Fans will be hoping that the decision pays off when AFCON kicks off in April.