Nigeria Clinches AFCON 2025 Third Place: Eagles Beat Egypt 4-2 on Penalties in Casablanca

Nwabali’s heroics and Lookman’s decisive kick earn Nigeria a record ninth AFCON bronze medal.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria finished the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 campaign on a high, securing third place with a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Egypt after a goalless 90 minutes at the Stade Mohammed V on Saturday. This result extends Nigeria’s unbeaten run in AFCON third-place matches and adds another bronze medal to the nation’s rich football history.

Match Summary: Penalty Shootout Decides Third Place

After both teams failed to score in regulation time — in a tactical and cagey affair, the contest went straight to penalties. Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged as the hero, producing vital saves in the shootout, including stopping attempts from Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.

Despite an early miss from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru in the shootout, Nigeria steadied themselves. Akor Adams, Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman all converted their penalties with composure, with Lookman calmly dispatching the decisive spot-kick to seal the bronze medal for the Super Eagles.

Nwabali’s Penalty Heroics

This bronze medal marks Nigeria’s ninth AFCON third-place finish, cementing the Super Eagles’ status as the most successful nation in third-place playoffs in the history of the tournament. The victory also offers a strong finish to a memorable AFCON 2025 campaign, especially after the heartbreak of losing to Morocco in the semi-final on penalties earlier in the tournament.

Nwabali’s performance was the defining factor in Nigeria’s win. His crucial saves under pressure, especially denying Salah and Marmoush swung the momentum fully in Nigeria’s favour. For his display, he was deservedly named TotalEnergies CAF Man of the Match, highlighting his pivotal role in the Super Eagles’ successful penalty shootout performance.

For Nigeria, the third-place playoff has become a stage where the team consistently shows resilience. The Super Eagles’ ability to rise to the occasion; particularly in nerve-wracking penalty shootouts — underlines their mental strength and competitive quality in major African tournaments.