Egypt vs Nigeria in Nations Cup

Defending champions Egypt were handed a favorable African Cup of Nations draw, with Nigeria being their only high-profile opposition.

The Pharaohs, who won back-to-back Nations Cup titles in 2006 and 2008, will also face minnows Mozambique and Benin in Group C of the tournament.

The Nations Cup takes place in Angola from January 10 to 31.

Ivory Coast, semi-finalists in 2008, will face tough opponents in Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso in Group B.

Hosts Angola, who face their first competitive test under former Ahli coach Manuel Jose, were drawn with Mali, Algeria and Malawi in Group A.

Cameroon, who were defeated by Egypt in the 2008 Nations Cup final, tackle Tunisia, Zambia and Gabon in Group D.

Egypt last played Nigeria in a friendly game in 2002 that ended in a 1-1 draw. Their last competitive meeting was in the 1994 Nations Cup.

The six-time African champions thrashed Benin 5-1 in a friendly game last year.

They faced Mozambique, who will make their first Nations Cup appearance since 1998, just two times.

Egypt overcame Mozambique 2-0 in the 1986 edition on home soil and repeated the same scoreline 12 years later in Burkina Faso.

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