Nigeria claimed the bronze medal at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 after defeating Egypt 4-2 on penalties following a goalless draw in the third-place playoff at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca on January 17, 2026. The Super Eagles secured their ninth bronze medal in the history of the continental competition with a nerve-wracking penalty shootout victory over the Pharaohs.
The match itself proved to be a tightly contested affair with neither side able to break the deadlock over 90 minutes of play. Egypt enjoyed slightly more possession at 53.3 percent compared to Nigeria's 46.7 percent, but it was the Super Eagles who created the better chances throughout the encounter. Nigeria registered four shots on target compared to Egypt's solitary effort, demonstrating their attacking intent despite not finding the breakthrough.
The defining moment of the shootout came when Liverpool star Mohamed Salah stepped up to take his penalty for Egypt. The Nigerian goalkeeper produced a fantastic save to deny the Egyptian talisman, swinging the momentum decisively in favor of the Super Eagles. Salah's miss proved crucial as it put Egypt under immense pressure from which they could not recover.
Nigeria's penalty takers held their nerve throughout the shootout, converting four of their attempts while Egypt could only manage two successful conversions. The victory provided some consolation for the Super Eagles following their disappointing semi-final exit against hosts Morocco, where they had also lost on penalties after a goalless draw. For Egypt, the defeat compounded their misery after falling 1-0 to Senegal in their semi-final clash.
The bronze medal represents a respectable finish for Nigeria in what has been a competitive tournament, with the Super Eagles demonstrating their quality and resilience throughout. Head coach Augustine Eguavoen will be pleased with the team's ability to bounce back from their semi-final heartbreak and secure a podium finish in Morocco. The result also continues Nigeria's proud tradition in the Africa Cup of Nations as one of the most successful nations in the tournament's history.