The Super Eagles will be without Calvin Bassey, who is suspended after receiving his second booking of the knockout phase during Wednesday’s semi-final defeat to Morocco. His absence leaves a vacancy in central defence, a role Ogbu is widely tipped to fill.
Ogbu, 25, featured in Nigeria’s final group-stage match against Uganda and has remained part of head coach Éric Chelle’s defensive plans throughout the tournament. He also made a brief appearance as a late substitute in the quarter-final win over Algeria, underlining his readiness for a more prominent role if called upon.
Beyond the enforced change at the back, Chelle is expected to reshuffle his lineup as Nigeria targets a strong finish to the campaign. With fatigue setting in after a demanding tournament, several players who have seen limited minutes so far could be handed opportunities against the Pharaohs.
The third-place encounter between Nigeria and Egypt is scheduled to kick off at 5pm today at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.