Nigeria beat a disappointing Egypt 1-0 to demonstrate that they are bona fide candidates to win the Africa Cup of Nations.

Considered outside hopefuls going into the tournament, their midfield combination of Wilfred Ndidi and Joe Aribo dominated Egypt, starving Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah of any real opportunity to influence the game.

The two teams sparred in the opening half hour, with Nantes’ winger Moses Simon looking dangerous, but neither team had a major chance until Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho beautifully controlled a ball on the edge of the area and fired it across his body into the Egypt net.

This goal, rather than prod Egypt into action, only seemed to spur on Nigeria. They had several chances either side of the break, with Taiwo Awoniyi brilliantly kept out by Mohamed El Shenawy, and a clumsy touch from Iheanacho causing him to spurn a chance to double his tally.

Egypt had one chance in the second half when Nigeria’s defence seemingly thought Salah had been caught offside, but the Egyptian maestro couldn’t lift the ball over Maduka Okoye. In a battle of the captains, he was frustrated throughout by Watford’s William Troost-Ekong.

Nigerian substitute Chidera Ejuke could have cemented his country’s win in the final minute, but his length-of-the-pitch break was hit straight at El Shenawy.