CASABLANCA, MOROCCO – The Super Eagles of Nigeria have secured the bronze medal at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after defeating Egypt 4-2 in a high-tension penalty shootout on Saturday evening.
Following a scoreless 90 minutes at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca, the match proceeded directly to penalties, where goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged as the hero to preserve Nigeria’s perfect record in AFCON third-place play-offs.
Match Highlights: A tactical stalemate
The encounter was a cagey affair as both continental giants looked to recover from their semi-final disappointments. Nigeria thought they had taken the lead in the 36th minute when Sevilla forward Akor Adams found the net, but the goal was ultimately overturned by VAR for a marginal offside.
In the second half, Egypt’s “Pharaohs” maintained their signature defensive solidity, frustrating a Nigerian attack led by Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen. Lookman came closest to a winner in the 75th minute, but his powerful strike was expertly saved by Egyptian keeper Oufa Shobeir.
The Nwabali show
With no goals in regulation time, the game was decided from the spot. Nigeria faced an early setback when Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s opening penalty was saved. However, Stanley Nwabali turned the tide decisively, producing two spectacular saves against Egypt’s biggest stars—Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.
Following Nwabali’s heroics, Akor Adams, Moses Simon, and Alex Iwobi all converted their spot-kicks with clinical precision. Ademola Lookman then stepped up to slot home the winning penalty, sealing a 4-2 shootout victory.
A record-breaking finish
With this victory, Nigeria has now finished third in the Africa Cup of Nations a record nine times. The Super Eagles leave Morocco on a positive note, having maintained their historical “100% success rate” in bronze-medal matches.
The tournament concludes tomorrow as hosts Morocco face Senegal in the grand finale in Rabat.
