Egypt travel to Nigeria for the third African Cup of Nations qualification group game on Friday, with both Alex Iwobi and Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal set to take part, and they are set to meet again four days later.
The young winger has recently emerged into the Gunners first-team, and despite falling foul of food poisoning this week, has recovered well in good time, and is ready to make his competitive debut.
England are reported to have asked Iwobi to return to the England set-up, having featured for the England Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 sides previously, before switching to play for his country of birth last year in two friendlies.
Should the 19 year-old participate as expected, he will be unavailable to return to play for England in the future, having only featured in friendlies previously.
He will be set to play alongside a number of fellow Premier League stars, including Chelsea’s Jon Obi Mikel and Victor Moses, Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho, and Odion Ighalo, all oh whom were overlooked to start in their previous 0-0 draw with Tanzania.
Egypt come into the tie on top of the group, having won their two previous ties with Chad and Tanzania comfortable, scoring eight and conceding one, while Iwobi’s new side come into the tie without having let in a single goal.
The tie looks set to be an exciting one, with a number of attacking players, and despite the Pharaohs coming in with an 100% record so far, the home side look the stronger on paper.
Ighalo and Iwobi come into the match with great form and confidence, and that can drive their side to leapfrog their rivals to the top of the table.
Elneny recently opened his goalscoring account for Arsenal against Barcelona, but I don’t expect him to get on the scoresheet this week, although I do expect his side to bag themselves a goal.
There is limited markets open on the tie currently, but I’m predicting a 2-1 or 3-1 win for the Super Eagles, and if Ighalo starts as he deserves, a bet on him to get the first goal should be worth a punt also.
In other news, we are never gonna win the league under Winger.
What does that have to do with the article ? lol
Thought u were blocked from the site like Hafiz Rahman and other fellows who don’t like the idea of Arsene being a manager anymore.
So why are you and all your mates still here? Are you calling me half biased? I ban people based on my rules which you can read above … whatever category you decide to put them in….
That is not news it is your opinion. And has nothing to do with Elneny and Iwobi.
KickAss – Have you not read my posts? There will be no more sloganising.
We are here to discuss the football, and the fact that you put this as the first comment on a story about Iwobi and Elneny makes it even more annoying.
Talk about the topic and the football or go away.
Egypt population. 92 million.
Nigeria population 176 million
Having an Arsenal player
from each country if Arsenal
starts winning the EPL regularly
we could add 100 million to our fan base 🙂
This season was our best chance in ages
I wonder if we would have won the title with Krychowiak and Jackson Martinez as signings last summer. That would have been less than £50 million.
Huge mistake for Wenger not to have backed up Coquelin and put so much faith in Walcott and Giroud. Not the decisions of a sensible manager.
Best of luck to both gunners alex iwobi and mohamed elneny , on international duty!
Elneny and Iwobi playing for their country?
Make it last you two Arsenal will soon coach any innovative football out of you.
Are you really an Arsenal supporter?If you hate them so much why are you here?
Jack now out for rest of season?
Is it bye bye now?
Should be a great tie.
@G-RUDE
Not winning the league for so long obviously doesn’t effect you as it does me. Thats the bit I hate.I don’t like being an also ran.