Nigeria edged Egypt 4-2 on penalties at Casablanca’s Stade Mohammed V on Saturday to clinch third place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), condemning the Pharaohs to another frustrating night after a drab goalless playoff.
The Super Eagles held their nerve from start to finish, grinding out a gritty result to end their AFCON campaign on a high note and deny Egypt a podium finish on the eve of the tournament’s grand finale in Rabat.

Nigeria booked their place in the third-place match after suffering heartbreak in the semi-final, where they were eliminated by hosts Morocco in a tense penalty shootout following extra time.

The Super Eagles’ semi-final exit against Morocco, decided from the spot, had raised questions about their mentality, but those doubts were emphatically answered against Egypt.

Facing the Pharaohs, Nigeria were again dragged into a penalty showdown after the match ended goalless at the end of regulation time, with no extra time allowed under competition rules.

The shoot-out, however, belonged to Stanley Nwabali, as the goalkeeper stunned Africa by denying Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, turning Egypt’s superstars into unlikely villains on the night.

Nigeria ultimately triumphed 4-2 on penalties, sealing the bronze medal for a record ninth time and reinforcing their reputation as one of Africa’s most resilient tournament teams.

The AFCON final will be played on Sunday, with hosts Morocco facing Senegal in Rabat.