Nigeria’s Super Eagles ended their AFCON 2025 campaign on a historic high after overcoming Egypt in the third-place playoff in Casablanca.

Beyond bronze medals, the victory further entrenched Nigeria’s status as the most successful nation in Africa Cup of Nations history.

The third-place playoff between Nigeria and Egypt was anything but a dead rubber, setting up a heavyweight contest between two of Africa’s most decorated football nations.


 

Both teams arrived in Casablanca nursing semi-final heartbreak, with Nigeria losing 4–2 on penalties to hosts Morocco after a goalless 120 minutes, while Egypt were edged out by Senegal.

For the Super Eagles, the fixture carried added significance. Already the most decorated AFCON nation with 16 medals, Nigeria knew victory would stretch that record further ahead of Egypt, who sit second with 13 medals despite boasting a competition-high seven titles.

Exactly half of Nigeria’s AFCON podium finishes have now been bronze, a testament to their ability to bounce back strongly after falling short of the final.

On the pitch, the match did not live up to its billing, ending 0–0 in regulation time after a tense, VAR-dominated encounter. Nigeria twice thought they had taken the lead through Paul Onuachu and Ademola Lookman, only for both goals to be ruled out for offside after lengthy reviews.

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah was a constant threat, creating numerous chances, but he was repeatedly denied by an inspired Stanley Nwabali, who produced a stunning point-blank save to keep the Pharaohs at bay. With no extra time played, the contest went straight to penalties.

The shootout was high drama from the start, as both sides missed their opening kicks, including a rare miss from Salah. Nigeria held their nerve thereafter, and after another Egyptian miss, Lookman stepped up to score the decisive penalty in a 4–2 shootout win.

The victory secured Nigeria’s ninth AFCON third-place finish and preserved their perfect record in bronze-medal matches, further cementing their place at the summit of African football history.

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