By Ikeddy ISIGUZO
ANYONE who watched Mohamed Salah’s goal against Chelsea in Liverpool’s English Premiership tie on Sunday would panic. Thankfully, we are talking about 2021 AFCON, Egypt against Nigeria.
Gifted, mutli-talented, fast on the ball, quick in executions, and voraciously focused on scoring goals, Salah will be a factor in Eagles opening match on 11 January. The Eagles would pay him loads of attention. It could be a mistake to neglect other ferocious attackers whose partnerships wielded in the healthy Egyptian League would count.
Super Eagles are in about their most chaotic form heading to Cameroun. Spates of injuries, a new coaching crew, no test matches for the selected team. There is a lot to worry about in the team.
Perennial optimists claim the Eagles thrive in mayhem. AFCON 2021 will test the theory. 
Super Eagles will start their campaign at the 2021 AFCON finals against seven-time champions Egypt on January 11, at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua, the northern Camerounian city that is on the banks of River Benue, just 101km from Yola.
Super Eagles arrived Garoua in the early hours of Thursday after an hour’s flight from Abuja. They flew a special flight courtesy of the partnership with Air Peace.
It would be great to see the 2021 AFCON take off after the delays over construction of facilities, COVID-19, and suggestions by European clubs to cancel it completely as it interfered with their Leagues that are in crucial stages.
Many top European clubs have African players who make crucial contributions to their efforts. They wanted the competition, at least, scheduled away from their League fixtures.
If their national teams progress in AFCON, some of the players could be away for over four weeks. Some clubs used to arrange special flights to get their players in and out of Africa during AFCON. COVID-19 has made such moves stiffer.
Nigeria are three-time champions and would have fared better in the ratings if the Super Eagles had not lost four finals – three to Cameroun, and one to Algeria.
Most painfully, the last lost final was at the National Stadium, Lagos, to Cameroun. It denied Nigeria the chance of winning the African Unity Cup outright. The Cup was first unveiled at the same venue in 1980 when President Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari had the pleasure of handing it to the Green Eagles, as they were then known.
Super Eagles were last in the final in 2013 with Stephen Keshi as coach. Keshi is the second African to have won AFCON as player (1994), and coach (2013). Towering ahead of him is the legendary Egyptian Mahmoud el Gohary, winner of AFCON in 1959 as player and coach in 1998. Gohary died in 2012; Keshi followed in 2016.
Egypt’s ambition is borne by Salah who underlined it in an Instagram post (in Arabic): “The road is not easy, but we will fight to come back with the cup. Stay behind us. #EncourageEgypt”.
Salah came closest to winning the trophy in 2017. Egypt lost to Cameroon in the finals. As hosts in 2019, Salah and company were ejected in the second round by unrated South Africa. Salah is in his third bid for Africa’s most prized trophy and the race to extend Egypt’s dominance.
Super Eagles have better results against Egypt in 18 encounters across all competitions, winning eight, drawing five while Egypt won five. Mist of those competitions were in the pre-Salah era. The test in Garoua would be fierce with open the chances for both teams.
Nigeria will face Sudan on January 15, before their final group game against Guinea Bissau on January 19.
The match against Egypt sets the pace as Super Eagles stake their interest in returning to importance in Africa. Salah and his colleagues have a fight in their hands.
A winner of the tie could be the one to top the group, and advance.
*Nigeria’s Fixtures*
11 Jan – Egypt
15 Jan – Sudan
19 Jan – Guinea-Bissau
*Super Eagle Team*
*Goalkeepers*
Francis Uzoho 23
John Noble 27
Daniel Akpeyi 16
Maduka Okoye 1
*Defenders*
Chidozie Awaziem 20
Kenneth Omeruo 22
William Ekong 5
Semi Ajayi 6
Olaoluwa Aina 2
Jamilu Collins 3
Zaidu Sanusi 12
Olisa Ndah 26
Chidozie Awazien 20
Tyronne Ebuehi 21
*Midfielders*
Frank Onyeka 8
Joseph Ayodele-Aribo 10
Wilfred Ndidi 4
Chidera Ejuke 13
Kelechi Nwakali 25
*Forwards*
Ahmed Musa 7
Samuel Chukwueze 17
Moses Simon 15
Sadiq Umar 24
Taiwo Awoniyi 19
Odion Jude Ighalo 9
Alex Iwobi 18
Kelechi Iheanacho 14
Henry Onyekuru 11
Peter Olayinka 28
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