By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated the Pharaohs of Egypt 4–2 on penalties to claim the bronze medal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations third-place match after the encounter ended goalless at full time.
The playoff match, played on Saturday,17 January, 2026 at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, Morocco, finished 0–0 after 90 minutes, as both sides were unable to find a breakthrough despite creating several scoring chances.
Consequently, the contest was decided by a penalty shootout, where Nigeria showed greater composure to secure victory and a place on the podium.
During the shootout, Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali delivered a decisive performance, saving spot kicks from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, ironically Egypt’s standout players at the competition.
His timely interventions swung the momentum in Nigeria’s favour, as Egypt could only convert two of their penalties, while Nigeria successfully scored four.
Throughout the match, both teams pressed for a winning goal, but disciplined defending and solid goalkeeping ensured the deadlock remained unbroken until the final whistle.
Despite the absence of goals, the encounter was played with intensity, as both sides sought to end their AFCON campaign on a positive note.
Reacting after the match, members of the Nigerian camp said the players were determined to bounce back after narrowly missing out on a place in the final.
They explained that finishing third and securing the bronze medal was important for team morale and reflected the squad’s resilience.
In recognition of his outstanding display, Nwabali was named Man of the Match, capping a memorable performance that proved pivotal to Nigeria’s success.
With the result, Nigeria concluded their AFCON 2025 campaign on the podium, while Egypt settled for fourth place in the continental tournament.
