The 2013 champions needed a win in front of a strong, passionate crowd to go through but were second best for much of the game to Egypt and conceded the vital goal when Ramadan Sohby slotted after Nigeria had failed to clear their lines from a corner kick.

While defeat marked the end of the road for the Super Eagles, it left Egypt mighty close to a return to the Nations Cup for the first time since 2010 when they won the last of their record seven titles.

There was also bad new for South Africa who could only draw goalless with Cameroon to leave their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

By TV3 Sports|Ghana