Nigeria deservedly won 1-0 over Egypt in their Africa Cup of Nations heavyweight Group D opener, with Mohamed Salah unable to motivate the record seven-time champions.
Carlos Queiroz’s team was second best throughout the game, but notably in the first half, when they fell behind to Kelechi Iheanacho’s wonder goal.
The Leicester City striker was given time to take a touch just inside the area, but Mohamed El-Shenawy had little chance to stop Iheanacho from shooting into the top-right corner as the ball set up perfectly for him.
Early in the second half, the lively Taiwo Awoniyi believed he had made it 2-0, but his header was deemed to have been stopped right on the line.
A poor touch then robbed Iheanacho of the chance to slot into an empty net, before the quiet Salah was crowded out just in time as he got a feeble shot away in a rare sighting of goal for Egypt.
Egypt will now be playing catch-up on matchday two as they face Guinea-Bissau. Nigeria could potentially secure passage to the knockouts against Sudan.
