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Nigeria shone Thursday only to go down 3-2 to seven-time African champions Egypt in a thrilling friendly in Dubai.
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The Eagles, made up players from the Nigeria Premier League, held their own and played a positive game against their more experienced opponents inside the El Nasri Stadium in Dubai.?
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It was coach Stephen Keshi's first loss since he took charge of the Eagles in November.
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They took the lead in the 13th minute through Sunday Mba after he was set up by Uche Kalu.
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Egypt restored parity on 25 minutes when midfielder Ahmed Temsah cashed in on a defensive mix-up between centre halves Azubuike Egwuekwe and Papa Idris.
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The Pharaohs then went in front on 33 minutes courtesy of a penalty kick converted by Mohamed Aboutrika after full back Juwon Oshaniwa had upended an Egyptian player inside the goal area.
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Nigeria were back on level terms on 42 minutes through a cheeky back-heeled effort by the impressive Enyimba striker Uche Kalu from an Ejike Uzoenyi corner.
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It was a just reward for the Eagles as they piled on pressure after they went behind for the first time in the game.
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Just when it seemed there would be no more goals in this game, Egypt grabbed the winner in stoppage time through Ahmed Hassan Mekki after an error in the Eagles defence.
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Egypt paraded their top stars like Aboutrika, Hossam Ghaly, Hossam Ashour with Sunderland ace Ahmed Elmohamady starting from the bench after his English club released him to join his country’s team.
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They made as many as six changes from after the interval.
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Eagles starting XI
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Chigozie Agbim – Godfrey Oboabona, Juwon Oshaniwa, Papa Idris, Azubuike Egwuekwe – Gabriel Reuben, Henry Uche, Ejike Uzoenyi – Sunday Mba, Uche Kalu, Obinna Nwachukwu
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Subs: Ogonna Uzochukwu, Uche Ossai, Izu Azuka, Bartholomew Ibenegbu, Barnabas Imenger, Sope Ahmed, Daniel Akpeyi
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Coach: Stephen Keshi
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Egypt
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Abdul-Wahed Al Sayed – Ahmed Saied, Basem Ali (Ahmed Elmohamady 46), Mahmoud Fattallah – Ahmed Temsah, Hossam Ashour (Ashour Al-Taqui 84), Hossam Ghaly, Mohamed Aboutrika (Emad Meteb 75), Mohamed Abdul-Shafi – Ahmed Hassan Mekki, Ahmed Abdul-Zaher
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Coach: Bob Bradley
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