Nigeria extended their remarkable dominance in Africa Cup of Nations third-place matches after edging Egypt 4–2 on penalties in Saturday’s bronze-medal play-off at the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025.
After a tense, goalless 90 minutes in Casablanca, the Super Eagles held their nerve in the shoot-out, with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerging as the hero to seal yet another historic finish for Nigeria.
The result preserved Nigeria’s flawless record in AFCON third-place matches. The West Africans have now won all eight bronze-medal play-offs they have contested at the finals — a unique achievement unmatched by any other nation in the competition’s history.
Nigeria came into the match already boasting an extraordinary relationship with the bronze medal, having claimed third place every time they reached this stage. Victory over Egypt not only maintained that perfect run but also lifted Nigeria’s overall bronze-medal tally to nine, further underlining their consistency on the continental stage.
Egypt, themselves no strangers to third-place success with three wins from five previous appearances, were unable to break Nigeria’s stranglehold in the play-off fixture. The Pharaohs matched the Super Eagles throughout the regulation time but fell short when it mattered most, undone by Nigeria’s composure from the spot.
Historically, AFCON third-place matches have often delivered drama and unpredictability. For Nigeria, however, the bronze-medal match has become a familiar and controlled exercise. From narrow wins in 2002 and 2006, to decisive victories in 2010 and 2019, and now a second shoot-out triumph following success in 2025, the Super Eagles have repeatedly found a way to finish tournaments on the podium.
Attention now shifts to Sunday’s final between Morocco and Senegal.
