“It’s like the final before the final” – Super Eagles legend Amuneke says ahead of Nigeria – Egypt Afcon clash.

Super Eagles legend Emmanuel Amuneke says the group stage clash between Nigeria and Egypt on Tuesday is “just like the final before the final.”

Both teams possess an array of stars and Amuneke, who won the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria in 1994, says “we expect to see a very entertaining game.”

“This is the first game in this group and this is just like the final before the final but we expect to see a very interesting game,” Amuneke told Omasports in Cameroon. “Both teams have great players so we expect to see a very entertaining game.

“But then it depends on the capacity of each team to be able to manage the game to their own advantage,” he added.

Nigeria will be without one of its most important players in Victor Osimhen, who pulled out of the squad due to Covid-19 and the need to recover from facial fractures. Amuneke says the 23-year-old Napoli forward will be missed but focus should be on those that are available.

“You’ll always miss your important players but the good thing is that those that are here you have to give them the confidence so they can excel. He [Osimhen] is not here so we have to focus on those that are here.”