Nigeria Secure Ninth AFCON Bronze After Penalty Shootout Triumph Over Egypt

Nigeria claimed third place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Egypt 4–2 on penalties following a goalless 90 minutes at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca.

The tightly contested match produced few clear chances, with both sides struggling to break through defensively. Nigeria thought they had taken the lead in the first half, but a Paul Onuachu effort was ruled out after a VAR review. With neither team able to score in regulation time, the playoff proceeded directly to a penalty shootout.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali proved decisive, saving Egypt’s first two attempts — including one from Mohamed Salah — to give Nigeria an early advantage. Despite Nigeria missing their opening kick, subsequent takers converted confidently, and Ademola Lookman sealed the victory with the final penalty.

The result extends Nigeria’s perfect record in AFCON third‑place matches, marking their ninth bronze medal — the most of any nation in the tournament’s history. Egypt, competing in its sixth third‑place playoff, was unable to match Nigeria’s composure in the shootout despite a disciplined defensive performance during regular play.

Nigeria entered the match after a narrow semifinal defeat to hosts Morocco, also decided on penalties, while Egypt were edged out 1–0 by Senegal in their semifinal fixture. Both teams had aimed to finish the tournament on a positive note following those setbacks.

The bronze‑medal match holds significance for both nations, each with a long history of success in African football. Nigeria’s victory reinforces their consistency at AFCON, where they have frequently reached the latter stages and maintained strong defensive performances throughout the 2025 edition. For Egypt, the defeat concludes a campaign that included a dramatic quarter‑final win but ultimately fell short of podium expectations.