Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem hailed the recent 2-1 friendly defeat to Egypt as an invaluable test ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, praising the Pharaohs' quality while affirming Nigeria's readiness despite the narrow loss at Cairo International Stadium. Awaziem, who netted the equalizer early in the second half from a Zaidu Sanusi rebound, noted the match allowed coach Eric Chelle to rotate squad depth, experiment with tactics, and build cohesion without key stars like Osimhen, emphasizing dominance in possession and chance creation post-interval.
Egypt struck first through Mahmoud Saber before Awaziem's header leveled scores, only for Mostafa Mohamed to restore the lead via Zizo's assist, handing Nigeria a tactical workout against continental heavyweights minus Salah and Marmoush. The defender underscored the non-result focus, with rotations spotlighting newcomers amid camp swelling to 24 before Fès travel for the Group C opener versus Tanzania on December 23.
This gritty encounter Egypt's first win over Nigeria in nearly a decade fuels optimism, as Awaziem declared the three-time champions sharpened and united for redemption after 2023's heartbreak.