Nigeria Pre-AFCON Friendly Between Nigeria and Egypt Postponed to December 16 Over FIFA Release Rule

The Digest:

The pre-AFCON friendly between Nigeria and Egypt has been moved from December 14 to December 16 after FIFA extended the deadline for clubs to release players to December 15. Rooted in the storm of international scheduling, the match will now be played as a practice game with expanded substitutions.

Key Points

• FIFA ruled clubs can retain players until December 15 for AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
• The match was rescheduled from Sunday, December 14, to Tuesday, December 16.
• The game will be a practice match, allowing more than five substitutions.
• Kickoff is set for 8 PM Egypt time (7 PM Nigeria time) at Cairo Stadium.
• Nigeria is in Group C with Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania at AFCON 2025.
• Egypt is in Group B alongside South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe.
• Nigeria’s first AFCON match is against Tanzania on December 23 in Fez

As nations fine-tune their squads under FIFA’s tight calendar, even a friendly clash becomes a carefully timed rehearsal, a brief storm before the continental battle begins.

Sources: NFF Statement, FIFA Regulations, Leadership Newspapers