The Egyptian national team fell into the trap of losing against its Nigerian counterpart, zero 1 During the match that brought them together on Tuesday evening (January 11, 2022), in the first round of Group D of the African Nations Cup, currently being held in Cameroon.
The Nigerian team (Green Eagles) owes this victory to its player Kelechi Ihyanacho, who scored the game’s only goal in the 30th minute.
With this victory, the Nigerian team scored its first three points in the tournament, while the Egyptian team remained without points. It is noteworthy that the Egyptian team is the most crowned team in the championship, having won the cup seven times previously.
The start of the match came at a mediocre level, but the Nigerian team quickly imposed its control over the course of the meeting in search of a goal to score, and on the other hand, the Egyptian team retreated to its midfield and relied on counter-attacks.
In the tenth minute, the Egyptian team had to make an emergency substitution, involving Mohamed Abdel Moneim instead of right defender Akram Tawfiq, who came out injured.
Over time, the Egyptian team entered the atmosphere of the offensive match and the Nigerian team exchanged attacks, but they failed to pose any danger to the other’s goal.
Play remained confined to the center of the field until the minute 26, which witnessed a dangerous opportunity for the Nigerian team when Gore Aribo passed a through ball to Moses Simon inside the penalty area from the left side, to hit the ball the moment Egypt goalkeeper, Mohamed El-Shennawy, went out of his line, but he hit the ball into the outside net.
And in the minute 30 The Nigerian team scored the first goal, when the ball reached Kelechi Ihyanacho inside the penalty area, to hit a powerful ball with his left foot that hugged the net.
After the goal, the Nigerian team continued to press in search of doubling its outcome, which led to the Egyptian team’s continued retreat to its midfield, until the referee blew the whistle at the end of the first half, with the Nigerian team advancing with a clean goal.
Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates scoring against Egypt and gives Nigeria three points that make it on the throne of Group D.
The second half .. average performance and few chances
With the beginning of the second half, the Nigerian team imposed its control over the course of the match, amid an unjustified retreat from the Egyptian players. The Nigerian team almost scored the second goal in the minute 48, when Taiwo Onyi met a cross pass with a header from inside the six yard area. But El-Shennawy tackled it to hit the crossbar before he caught it.
The Nigerian team’s offensive attempts continued in search of the second goal, amid confusion in the ranks of the Egyptian team, which with time regained its balance and launched attacks on the Nigerian team’s goal to equalize the result. On the other hand, the Nigerian team retreated a little to its midfield and relied on counter-attacks.
However, the two teams failed to pose any danger to the two goals, to limit play to the midfield, until the minute 71When a dangerous opportunity arose for the Egyptian national team, but Nigeria goalkeeper Madoka Okoye excelled and saved it.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Chidera Ijoki Al-Shennawy, who excelled and saved the ball, was singled out by the match referee, a few seconds later, with the final whistle.
Y.A./ S.S.M. (DPA, Archyde.com)
.