Awaziem & Onuachu Focus on Positives After Egypt Defeat

Super Eagles stars Chidozie Awaziem and Paul Onuachu urged Nigeria to focus on the positives following their 2–1 friendly loss to Egypt as part of preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The match saw Egypt claim victory thanks to first-half goals from Mahmoud Saber and Mostafa Mohamed, despite missing several key players. Awaziem scored Nigeria’s lone goal in the first half, heading in from a set-piece delivery.

Head coach Eric Chelle used the fixture to assess new additions and experiment with tactics, giving opportunities to players like Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Tochukwu Nnadi. According to the duo, the friendly provided valuable lessons ahead of AFCON.

“It was a good test for us… we were able to test different structures, tactics, and players,” Awaziem said, adding that the team created “many chances to score” despite the result.

Onuachu, who made his debut against Egypt in 2019 and scored his first Super Eagles goal against them, said he was pleased with his performance and “felt confident and comfortable,” even though Nigeria came up short.

Editorial

In the often bruising theatre of international football, a friendly defeat can feel like a faint bruise or a simmering sore dependent entirely on how one chooses to perceive it. For Nigeria’s Super Eagles, the 2–1 loss to Egypt in Cairo might be catalogued as both, but it would be a mistake to see it as an indictment of their readiness for the Africa Cup of Nations. What transpired was, in fact, a measured rehearsal an opportunity to test resolve, stretch tactical imagination, and expand the competitive canvas beyond familiar confines.

Chidozie Awaziem’s headed goal was more than a statistic it was a statement of intent. Not merely that the defender can contribute on the scoresheet, but that Nigeria’s identity rooted in resilience, collective endeavour and adaptability remains intact even when the result skews against them. Paul Onuachu’s reflections, infused with personal history and affection for the fixture, spoke to a deeper continuity in the squad’s psyche: that experience and memory are as vital as training drills and formation charts.

It would be facile to dismiss this match as a mere warm-up. Egypt, with their own ambitions, brought intensity and precision, exposing areas where Nigeria must refine cohesion and decision-making. Yet the true measure of a team lies not in the result but in the lessons extracted. Chelle’s willingness to rotate, to give younger players a stage, underscores a managerial philosophy attuned to growth rather than mere scorelines.

Football, like life, is often about balance pragmatic realism abutting unshakeable belief. The Eagles’ performance spirited, probing and at times commanding suggests that the positives far outweigh the negatives. As they now pivot towards AFCON proper, their resolve, tempered by this encounter, may yet prove their richest asset.

Did You Know?

1. Egypt’s win over Nigeria was their first in nearly a decade, ending a nine-year drought against the Super Eagles in senior internationals.
2. Chidozie Awaziem’s goal was only his second for Nigeria at senior international level.
3. The friendly served as Nigeria’s only scheduled warm-up match ahead of AFCON 2025, offering a final tactical assessment before the tournament.
4. Paul Onuachu’s first Super Eagles goal came against Egypt in March 2019, a match played in Asaba, Nigeria.
5. Head coach Eric Chelle has experimented with both defensive and attacking formations in recent friendlies, reflecting a fluid tactical approach as he seeks the optimal setup for AFCON.