Egypt vs. Nigeria live score, updates, highlights from AFCON 2022

The second true heavyweight match of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations comes our way as Nigeria takes on Egypt to begin Group D play.

After Monday’s game between Morocco and Ghana saw the Atlas Lions come away with a 1-0 victory, today we’re treated to another matchup of title contenders. The match kicks off at 11 a.m. ET from Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua, Cameroon.

Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah leads the way for Egypt, but he has stiff star-powered competition on the other side as Nigeria boasts Leicester City duo Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi.

MORE: Premier League players at AFCON 2022

While both teams are expected to progress from Group D no matter today’s result, a potential winner would set themselves up nicely for a better Round of 16 matchup and a deep run deep in the tournament, while the loser could feel added pressure in its other group stage matches against Guinea-Bissau and Sudan.

Sporting News will be following the event live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

Nigeria vs. Egypt live score

Goals:
30th min – NIG – Kelechi Iheanacho

(All times Eastern)

70th minute: Salah again! He’s through on goal right down the middle, but as he collects the ball with his back to goal and then turns to shoot, his effort was stuffed by Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. Sparta Rotterdam’s young goalkeeper did very well to get his left foot to the shot. Salah was put under pressure by the defender but should have done better, after timing his run perfectly.

66th minute: Salah’s first chance of the match sees the Liverpool man go full karate kick on a cross from the right, but it’s blocked and then the offside flag goes up. That kind of game for Salah.

63rd minute: The Egyptian substitutions do appear to have had an effect on the match over the last few minutes, but Nigeria has not been tested of yet. Ola Aina has a go from distance but can’t add to the Nigerian lead as it goes well over and into the stands.

58th minute: HUGE miss by Nigeria! For all the world it should be 2-0, but a bruuuuutal heavy touch by Iheanacho with the goal completely wide open ends the opportunity. The goalkeeper had come out to smother the ball but whiffed. That left with Iheanacho the entire net to shoot at, but couldn’t control the pass from Ola Aina who created the chance. A massive letoff for Egypt.

Carlos Queiroz responds by withdrawing Trezeguet for Zizo and bringing on Ramadan Sobhi for striker Mostafa Mohamed. A double change for Egypt who has now used four of its five substitutes, while Nigeria hasn’t made one.

57th minute: Oh my, Simon absolutely sends Abdelmoneim for a hot dog to get free down the left on a one-two through the Egyptian defender’s legs, but his cross is just over the head of a teammate on the doorstep. What a performance he’s put in.

54th minute: Nigerian pressure forcing the Egyptian midfielders very deep, which has pushed the game mostly into the Egyptian half of the pitch.

49th minute: Nigeria picking right up where it left off in the first half, already with a number of good chances, including a headed effort by Awoniyi forced a save by El-Shenawi, who palms it up and then off the underside of the crossbar. Very close!

46th minute: We’re back under way for the second half, with a substitution for Egypt as head coach Carlos Queiroz brings on Ayman Ashraf to replace Ahmed Abou El-Fotouh. That’s a center-back for a left-back, which suggests a change of formation. We’ll see how, exactly.

Nigeria straight into the attack to earn a corner, but Kenneth Oumero puts his header wide.

HALFTIME: Nigeria 1-0 Egypt

Nigeria was clearly the better side in the opening 45 minutes, there’s no debating that fact. Moses Simon caused all kinds of problems down the left flank, helped by an early injury to Egypt right-back Akram Tawfik. A fantastic first half for the Super Eagles who see themselves in front.

Egypt hardly had a touch in the Nigerian third of the pitch, and Mohamed Salah was nowhere to be found. The Liverpool forward made just five successful passes in the entire first half, with four of those coming in his own half of the pitch. The Pharoahs have no answer when the opponent double- and triple-teams its star man. Big changes need at halftime to break down a well-organized Nigerian side.

44th minute: Moses Simon continues to cause all kinds of problems for Egypt, getting past defenders and sending a cross in to Samuel Chukwueze, but the Villarreal man can’t get his head to the ball. Egypt just cannot contain Simon down the left.

37th minute: Egypt has held more possession since the goal, but the Pharoahs haven’t done anything with it. Egypt has just one shot so far this entire match, a fair representation of their anemic attack.

Down the other end, Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has a go from distance but it’s scuffed wide right.

30th minute: GOAL! Nigeria! A deserved goal comes off the left foot of Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho who RIPS a shot into the top-right corner, unsaveable for Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawi. It started again with Simon down the left, and Egypt’s clearance only reached Joe Aribo who headed down to Iheanacho. The Foxes frontman did really well, receiving the ball with his back to goal, turning to his left and rippling the net with a powerful effort.

Egypt needs a reply, the Pharoahs have been second-best in the opening half-hour, and now they trail.

26th minute: First chance in what feels like ages, Nigeria comes close. Nantes winger Moses Simon uses blistering speed to go right around an Egyptian defender, but his shot is blasted into the side-netting. Hopefully that wakes this game up some. It’s been all Super Eagles so far.

23rd minute: Again play is stopped as the officials head over to a tent to check the match ball. This is getting ridiculous.

At least the venue looks enjoyable, although the amount of empty seats is surprising for such a highly anticipated match.

20th minute: There’s been some issues with the ball. Officials forced to find a new one for the second time, seems to be an issue with air pressure.

Nearly a quarter through the match, Nigeria has completely deflated Mohamed Salah (see what I did there?). He’s completed two total passes to this point.

14th minute: Weird VAR check for contact in the box on a play that happened almost five minutes ago, but nothing comes of it. Play continues. Cagey affair so far, neither side looking to throw numbers forward.

10th minute: Egypt forced into an early change as Tawfik will not be able to continue. Mohamed Abdelmoneim is the one readying on the sidelines.

Before the change can be made, Nigeria continues to attack. Egypt is playing the complicated tactical progression of Get The Ball To Salah as they look to counter but he’s swarmed by three green shirts on every touch. Will be tough sledding for the Liverpool star to find space in the attack. He has a target on his back.

5th minute: First half-chance for Egypt falls to striker Mostafa from a very tight angle but it’s easily saved by Nigeria goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, not truly troubling the Nigeria net. It came down the right flank with Trezeguet involved. Play is stopped for an injury to Egypt right-back Akram Tawfik, and it looks troubling. Seems to be a right knee problem.

3rd minute: Nigeria is pressing Egypt hard to open the match and it’s causing the Pharoahs problems. We’ll see how long Nigeria can keep it up, but it earns an early corner.

1st minute: We’re under way! Egypt in its red kit with white shorts, while Nigeria in wearing dark green on dark green. it’s a colorful affair in Cameroon.

10:55 a.m.: The teams are out on the pitch for the national anthem. This match has the feeling of a truly anticipated match.

10:30 a.m.: Will Nigeria and Egypt bring the big guns in their first match, or will they fall victim to rustiness and misfire like many of the other top sides in the tournament so far? Algeria the latest to look less than title-worthy earlier this morning as they were stymied by Sierra Leone goalkeeper Mohamed Kamara who made seven saves and faced 19 Algeria efforts.

10:27 a.m.: Salah isn’t the only one in today’s match ultimately targeting a trophy this month. Nigeria has its eye on the prize too. Both will look to prove it today.

10:08 a.m.: Mohamed Salah has just one target for AFCON 2022.

10:01 a.m.: Lineups are in, and most of the stars for both teams start, although Nigeria has left Ahmed Musa and Alex Iwobi on the bench. See the full lineups and substitutes below.

9:33 a.m.: Nigerian legend Ahmed Musa, who boasts 102 caps and 16 international goals, is set to begin his final Africa Cup of Nations tournament. He was a central figure in the team’s AFCON 2013 tournament title and captained the side during the 2019 tournament when Nigeria reached the semifinals before losing to eventual champions Algeria.

9:25 a.m.: Egypt head coach Carlos Queiroz doesn’t like to discuss specific formations, and prefers to remain flexible. We’ll see how much fluiditiy there is today against Nigeria.

Nigeria vs. Egypt lineups

Several of Nigeria’s stars play in the top leagues in Europe, which will make the Super Eagles a tough out for Egypt.

Expected to deploy a 3-CB formation as Augustine Eguavoen has done previously, he has reverted to a more traditional 4-4-2, with Iheanacho up front. Surprisingly, Everton’s Alex Iwobi starts the match on the bench, as does Nigerian legend Ahmed Musa.

Nigeria starting lineup (4-4-2): Okoye – Aina, Omeruo, Ekong, Zaidu – Chukwueze, Ndidi, Aribo, Simon – Iheanacho, Awoniyi.

Nigeria subs (12): Onyekuru, Ejuke, Iwobi, Musa, Sadiq, Nwakali, Onyeka, Ebuehi, Ajayi, Ndah, Akepyi, Uzoho.

For Egypt, Premier League stars Mohamed Salah and Mohamed Elneny both get the start, as does Aston Villa playmaker Trezeguet. It’s a strong lineup for Egypt, with the well-known players supporting Stuttgart youngster Omar Marmoush and Galatasaray striker Mostafa Mohamed up front.

While the lineup features many of Egypt’s best players, there was significant rotation during recent CAF World Cup qualifying in the fall, meaning there could be signs of unfamiliarity on the pitch.

Egypt starting lineup (4-2-3-1): El-Shenawy – Fetouh, El-Wensh, Hegazi, Akram – Hamdi, Elneny – Salah, Trezeguet, Marmoush – Mostafa.

Egypt subs (12): Sherif, Ashour, Lasheen, Sobhi, El Said, Zizo, Kamal, Abdelmoneim, El-Din, Ashraf, Gad, Sobhi.

How to watch Nigeria vs. Egypt

• Date: Tuesday, Jan. 11
• Time: 11 a.m. ET
• TV Channel: beIN Sports
• Spanish Language: beIN Sports en Espanol
• Streaming: fuboTV (free trial for new users)

The match will be carried live on beIN Sports primary English- and Spanish-language channels in the USA and Canada. 

Pre-match betting lines, picks & predictions

Pick: Draw & over 1.5 (+380)

Prediction: Nigeria 1-1 Egypt

• Moneyline: Nigeria +220 / Draw +185 / Egypt +165
• Spread: Egypt pick’em (-130) / Nigeria pick’em (+115)
• O/U 1.5 total goals: Over -145/ Under +125
• Both teams to score: Yes +125 / No -160