BENGUELA, Angola - Defending champion Egypt made a strong start to the African Cup of Nations, coming from behind to beat Nigeria 3-1 win in the opening game in Group C. Having failed to qualify for the World Cup…quot;losing to Algeria in a playoff …quot; Egypt is eager to impress in Angola and showed its collective strength with an impressive fightback.
Even without several key players it outclassed a stubborn Nigeria as it began its campaign to take an unprecedented third straight African Cup title.
Egypt has won the tournament a record six-times.
In a much anticipated clash between two powerhouses of African football, both teams started nervously before Borussia Dortmund striker Mohamed Zidan struck a powerful right-footed shot that Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama had to palm away in the 5th minute.
World Cup qualifier Nigeria, looking to win its third title, took the lead in the 12th minute when Hoffenheim striker Chinedu Obasi turned his defender on the right flank before beating Egypt ‘keeper Essam Al Hadary with a superb shot into the far corner.
Nigeria had another clear-cut chance in the 20th minute after Marseille defender Taye Taiwo found Kalu Uche in the box only for the Almeria striker to lift his shot over the bar.
Zidan could have leveled the game three minutes later but his right-footed strike was just wide.
Egypt, which has won the biennial tournament a record six times but hasn’t played in a World Cup since 1990, equalized after Meteab, taking advantage of some confusion in the Nigerian defense, collected a through ball from Hassan and rounded Enyeama just outside the box before shooting into an empty net.
The goal left Nigeria stunned and Shuaibu Amodou’s team struggled to regain its composure.
Hassan then put the defending champions ahead with a 20-meter deflected drive into the top-right corner after being set up by a perfectly weighted ball from Zidan in the 55th minute.
Egypt then had two great chances to increase its lead when unmarked Everton defender Meteab fluffed his shot from close range in the 60th and then Zidan forced Enyeama to make a great diving save two minutes later.
