Nigeria secured the bronze medal at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating record champions Egypt 4–2 on penalties in the third-place playoff at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca.
The Super Eagles, who narrowly missed out on a place in the final after losing to hosts Morocco on penalties, showed resilience and character to end their campaign on a high note on Saturday, January 17, 2025.
As is often the case with third-place playoff matches, both teams appeared short on motivation, resulting in a largely subdued contest. The first half offered little in terms of attacking excitement despite a decent turnout by fans in Casablanca.
Nigeria dominated possession for most of the match, but it was Egypt who created the clearer chances. The Pharaohs registered four shots on target from five attempts, testing the Nigerian defence more frequently. However, neither side was able to find the breakthrough, and the game ended goalless after 90 minutes.
The outcome was ultimately decided by penalties. Both teams missed their opening kicks, with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Mohamed Salah seeing their efforts saved. Nigeria then took control of the shootout as Akor Adams calmly converted to put the Super Eagles ahead.
Their advantage was strengthened when goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali denied Omar Marmoush, allowing Moses Simon to extend Nigeria’s lead to 2–0. The Super Eagles remained composed from the spot, converting four of their five penalties to seal a 4–2 victory.
The win handed Nigeria a deserved bronze medal and provided some consolation after their semifinal heartbreak, while Egypt were left to settle for fourth place in the tournament.
