The decision by FIFA that clubs can hold on to their players until 15th December 2025 before they are released for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, has necessitated the postponement of the pre-AFCON friendly between Nigeria and Egypt.
Seven-time winners Egypt and three-time winners Nigeria were scheduled to clash in a tune-up game in Cairo on 14th December, in line with an earlier regulation that ruled that players be released earlier.
The game has now been moved to 16th December as a result of the regulation.
Aside from the postponement, the game will now be a practice match in order to allow the two teams to make use of more than five substitutes in the encounter, which will kick off at 7pm (WAT), at the Cairo Stadium.
The Super Eagles are in Group C alongside 2004 champions Tunisia, 1978 runners-up Uganda and Tanzania. Nigeria’s first match is on 23rd December against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars at the Complexe Sportif de Fes.
Nigeria will tackle Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles (27th December) in the same venue and the Cranes of Uganda (30th December).
The Pharaohs, who hosted the finals in 2019, are in Group B alongside 1996 hosts and winners South Africa, 2010 hosts Angola, and Zimbabwe. Their matches will be at the Stade d’Agadir.