Kunle Solaja posted: " BY KUNLE SOLAJA If there was any team Nigeria had wished to avoid in the pre draw Pot 2, it is Egypt, the most successful team in the Africa Cup of Nations history. Egypt have played the final matches eight times and have won seven times, "
If there was any team Nigeria had wished to avoid in the pre draw Pot 2, it is Egypt, the most successful team in the Africa Cup of Nations history.
Egypt have played the final matches eight times and have won seven times, losing the final match only ones, to Cameroon in 2017.
Nigeria too have impressive record at the competition, playing the final matches seven times, but winning thrice and losing four times.
Three of the final match loses were to Cameroon in 1984, 1988 and 2000. The fourth loss was to Algeria in 1990.
The Nigeria and Egypt clash in Garoua will be star match of the Group D and could be destiny shaping regarding the leadership of the group.
Sports Village Square recalls that the Egyptians are the first team to ever beat Nigeria on home soil.
That was in the qualifying match for the football event of Rome 1960 Olympics. A combined force of Egypt and Syria named as United Arab Republic beat Nigeria 6-2 at the then Lagos City Stadium, Onikan which is today's Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
It is also the heaviest home defeat Nigeria ever suffered as well as heaviest number of goals conceded at home. The nearest to it is the four Sierra Leone scored last year in Benin City in the 4-4 draw.
Even though Godwin Odiye is famously known to have scored an own goal against Nigeria, yet he was not the first culprit.
The first own goal by Nigeria was scored for Egypt by John Onyeador in the 6-2 loss at home in 1959.
The game was barely two minutes old when an Egyptian corner kick by Hamdi Mohammed was head into Nigeria's net by Onyeador while he was being challenged by Raffat Attia.
Traditionally, Nigeria's home colour is green, an adoption from the national flag. But Egypt played a role in adoption of green as Nigeria's home colour.
In the return leg match of the 6-2 home loss by Nigeria played in Cairo on 1 January 1960, Nigeria (then known as Red Devils) were obliged to wear green instead of their customary red.
It was the first time Nigeria put on green shirt for an international match and moved towards substituting the sobriquet "Red Devils" with "Green Eagles" and since 29 March 1988 "Super Eagles".
Nigeria too have dealt heavy blows on Egyptian football. Nigeria's first podium appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations was at the expense of Egypt in 1976.
In the third place match, Nigeria won 3-2 to win the bronze medal. Of note is the thrid goal by Nigeria, a Muda Lawal performance that could go for a television exhibition even in the present age.
It was a magnificent solo effort and back-breaking exploit in the battle for the third place position.
In the 85th minute of the game, score-line stood at 2-2 and there was intense Egyptian pressure on Nigeria for a possible winning goal.
Apparently to douse tension on his defence, Joseph Eric, the Nigerian goalkeeper, sent a long kick to Muda Lawal who was lurking half way near the left line.
Like lightening, the wing half –turned attacker tapped the ball over a challenging Egypt's Ibrahim Youssef and raced away.
Exhibiting superb ball control, coolness and magnificent footwork, Muda set the on-rushing Egyptian goalkeeper, El-Sharet Sharaf, to the wrong way, and not losing a step, he outwitted the left half-back, Ali Hassan and finally slotted the ball beyond the desperate stretched legs of right back, Sallah Sallah who was then guarding the goal mouth.
Another great win by Nigeria over Egypt was a 1978 World Cup qualifier in Lagos. Nigeria won 4-0. It remained Egypt's biggest loss in a World Cup qualifying duel till the last stage of Brazil 2014 qualifiers.
When Nigeria and Egypt meet on 11 January, it will be the teams' 22nd clash. Egypt have the edge having won eight times and lost to Nigeria six times.
Nigeria won the last encounter played two years ago in Asaba when a Paul Onuachu's record setting eight-second goal was the decider. It was Nigeria's first defeat of Egypt in 19 years.
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