In a friendly match at Cairo International Stadium, Egypt secured a 2-1 victory over Nigeria. This was their final game before the Africa Cup of Nations. Both teams were missing key players, with Mohamed
Salah and Victor Osimhen absent. Despite this, Egypt managed to triumph, thanks in part to Zizo's two assists.
After a slow start, Egypt took control of the game. They scored first when Zizo set up Mahmoud Saber, who found the net with a right-footed shot 28 minutes into the match. Emam Ashour had a chance to extend the lead but missed after some impressive play. This miss proved costly as Chidozie Awaziem equalised for Nigeria just before half-time following a Zaidu Sanusi free-kick.
Egypt began the second half with renewed energy and regained their lead seven minutes after the break. Zizo was instrumental again, assisting Mostafa Mohamed, whose shot slipped through Stanley Nwabili's gloves. Nigeria struggled to find another equaliser without Osimhen on the field.
Zizo's performance was crucial for Egypt in Salah's absence. He provided two assists in this match, bringing his total for Egypt to six assists overall. It was also his first time achieving more than one assist in a single game.
Final Test Passed! #egyptnt pic.twitter.com/2skKXRJ5sJ
- Egypt National Team (@EgyptNT_EN) December 16, 2025
The absence of Mohamed Salah has been widely discussed leading up to AFCON due to various reasons both on and off the pitch. However, Egypt showed resilience and adaptability by securing a win without him. Zizo stepped up significantly in Salah's absence, playing a pivotal role in their victory.
Nigeria found it challenging to mount an effective attack without Victor Osimhen. Their attempts at finding another equaliser were largely ineffective against a solid Egyptian defence.
This match demonstrated Egypt's depth and ability to perform under pressure even without their star player Salah. The team's performance will boost their confidence as they head into the Africa Cup of Nations.
