Nigeria were the latest of Africa's World Cup-bound teams who flattered to deceive at the African Nations Cup finals, beaten 3-1 by Egypt in their opening Group C match in Benguela on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles join Algeria and Cote d'Ivoire in making a limp start to the tournament in Angola, suggesting Africa's hopes of offering a competitive line-up of teams at the 2010 World Cup finals might be somewhat wishful.
Nigeria floundered in defence again, allowing Egypt to come from behind and keep up their bid for an unprecedented third Nations Cup crown, and a consolation for their failure to qualify for South Africa.
Egypt have now gone 14 matches in Nations Cup tournaments, stretching back to 2004, without a loss and were full value for their win.
They came from behind after Nigeria had scored a cracking opener, at the brand-new Ombaka Stadium, after just 12 minutes through Chinedu Obasi.
His storming runs down the left-hand side threatened to carve apart Egypt and Obasi's shooting was sublime, too, cutting inside to hammer home the ball.
But it was as good as it got for the Super Eagles, who were then slowly taken apart by their physically superior opponents.
Egypt equalised in the 34th minute when Ahmed Hassan played through a superb pass that saw Emad Moteab outsprinting Nigeria's goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, take the ball round him and push into an open net.
The pace of the striker was key but so too the weight and accuracy of the pass from the 35-year-old Hassan, now competing in an eighth successive Nations Cup.
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Egypt took charge soon after the interval with Hassan turning from provider to scorer, albeit with the help of a healthy deflection.
His 54th-minute shot hit the back of Taye Taiwo and left Enyeama stranded again.
The Nigerians' fight fizzled out after that and it came as no surprise when substitute Mohamed Nagui ran right through a gaping hole in their defence and slotted home a third.
Admittedly this is not the end of the road for the Super Eagles, for they are expected to overcome both Benin and Mozambique in their next games, but the pressure on coach Shaibu Amodu will again reach fever point.
Amodu was fired after the 2002 Nations Cup finals in Mali when Nigeria only made it to the semi-finals. It meant he missed out on the 2002 World Cup finals.
Now he is in a similar position again with the trip to South Africa some 150 days away.
