The Super Eagles of Nigeria have again failed to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Gabon after falling to a 1-0 defeat in Egypt in their Group G match on Tuesday night.
With just one game remaining and only the group winners to qualify, the three times African champions cannot make up their five-point deficit to table-toppers Egypt.
Coach Samson Siasia kept faith with the backline that drew 1-1 against Egypt in Kaduna: Abdullahi Shehu, Stanley Amuzie, Efe Ambrose and Godfrey Oboabona while Chippa United goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, was in goal in place of injured first-choice, Carl Ikeme.
The coach also retained Oghenekaro Etebo and Mikel Obi but Umar Aminu started in place of Kelechi Iheanacho. The attack had only one change as Victor Moses started in place of Simon Moses. Odion Ighalo and Ahmed Musa kept their places in the attack.
Ramadan Sobhy's 65th-minute winner puts Egypt on the verge of qualification.
Nigeria won the Nations Cup in 2013 but have now suffered back-to-back eliminations in qualifying.
They threw everything forward to find an equaliser on Tuesday and came close when West Ham winger Victor Moses crashed a shot against the post in the 84th minute.
The match in Alexandria became a virtually all-or-nothing tie for Nigeria after Chad withdrew from the group on Sunday, citing financial difficulties, and all results from their matches were erased.
That left only three teams in Group G and in accordance with the rules of the Confederation of African Football only the winner would qualify for the finals.
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