Nigeria’s Super Eagles secured the bronze medal at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after edging Egypt 4-2 on penalties in a tense third-place playoff at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on Saturday.
The encounter ended scoreless after regulation time, with both sides cancelling each other out in a tightly contested affair.
The match was eventually decided from the penalty spot, where goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged as Nigeria’s hero, saving spot-kicks from Mohamed Salah and Oumar Marmoush to hand the Eagles their ninth third-place finish in AFCON history.
Interim coach Chelle fielded a largely rotated squad, leaving star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman on the bench at kick-off. Nwabali marshalled the defence made up of Bright Osayi-Samuel, Igoh Ogbu, Semi Ajayi and Bruno Onyemaechi, while Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika controlled proceedings in midfield.
Moses Simon captained the side, with Samuel Chukwueze providing width alongside Paul Onuachu and Akor Adams in attack.
Nigeria started on the front foot and fashioned the game’s first real opportunity in the 13th minute, but Adams’ effort was deflected for a corner.
The Eagles thought they had broken the deadlock in the 36th minute when Adams headed home, only for VAR to rule out the goal after Onuachu was adjudged to have fouled a defender in the build-up.
The Super Eagles continued to push after the break, and Lookman, introduced at halftime, briefly found the net before being flagged offside.
Despite late substitutions, including Alex Iwobi, neither side could find a decisive goal, forcing the match into penalties.
Dele-Bashiru missed Nigeria’s first kick in the shootout, but Nwabali immediately restored parity by denying Salah.
Adams, Simon and Iwobi all converted their efforts, while Marmoush also failed to beat the Nigerian goalkeeper.
After Egypt’s Mahmud Sabir scored, Lookman calmly dispatched the final kick to seal the victory.
Nigeria reached the playoff after losing to hosts Morocco on penalties in the semi-finals, while Egypt were edged out 1-0 by Senegal.
The bronze-medal victory provided consolation for the Eagles, who enjoyed an impressive tournament run and maintained their flawless record in AFCON third-place matches.
