In a tense and dramatic conclusion to their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, Nigeria's Super Eagles soared to a bronze medal finish, defeating Egypt 4-2 in a penalty shootout. The match, played on a cold Saturday evening at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, ended 0-0 after regular time, setting the stage for a nerve-wracking finale decided from the spot.
Shootout Redemption for the Super Eagles
The victory provided a sweet measure of redemption for a Nigerian side haunted by recent penalty heartbreaks. Just three days prior, the Eagles fell to hosts Morocco in a semi-final shootout. This disappointment echoed an even more painful loss last November, when a penalty defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo cost Nigeria a chance to compete in the intercontinental play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This time, however, fortune favored the three-time African champions. After Fisayo Dele-Bashiru missed Nigeria's first penalty, Akor Adams, captain Moses Simon, and Alex Iwobi all converted calmly. For Egypt, the usually reliable Mohamed Salah saw his kick saved by Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, as did Omar Marmoush's effort. With the score at 3-2, Ademola Lookman stepped up and coolly slotted home the winning penalty, sparking jubilant celebrations among the Nigerian players.
A Match of Disallowed Goals and Moroccan Support
The preceding 90 minutes were a cagey affair, with both teams making several changes from their semi-final lineups. Egypt made six alterations, while Nigeria made five, with stars like Victor Osimhen and Lookman starting on the bench.
The game saw two goals chalked off. First, Nigeria's Paul Onuachu had a 36th-minute header ruled out after a VAR review showed he had accidentally elbowed Hamdy Fathy in the build-up. Shortly after coming on at half-time, Lookman himself thought he had scored, only for the offside flag to cut short his celebration.
A notable feature of the match was the overwhelming support for Nigeria from the nearly 45,000-strong Moroccan crowd. The local fans whistled whenever Egypt had possession and when Pharaohs' coach Hossam Hassan appeared on the big screen, a clear nod to the fierce sporting rivalry between Morocco and Egypt at both national and club levels.
Sealing a Perfect Record and Looking Ahead
This hard-fought win maintains Nigeria's impeccable record in AFCON third-place play-offs. The Super Eagles have now won all eight of their bronze medal matches in the tournament's history, a remarkable statistic that underscores their resilience in these consolation fixtures.
For Egypt, led by captain Salah from the start, the match ended a disappointing campaign without a medal. Despite late pressure and the introduction of attackers like Marmoush, their strike force lacked a cutting edge, with Salah himself firing a late free-kick into the wall.
The victory allows Nigeria to end their AFCON 2025 journey on a positive note, claiming the bronze medal and providing a foundation of confidence as they look to rebuild and challenge for future honors.
