NWABALI’S HEROICS HELP NIGERIA BEAT EGYPT TO WIN AFCON BRONZE

NIGERIA VS EGYPT

Nigeria’s Super Eagles secured third place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Egypt in Casablanca, as goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali delivered a match-winning performance.

The third-place playoff at the Mohammed V Stadium ended goalless after 90 minutes, with both teams locked in a tense tactical battle. Nigeria dominated spells of possession and created the clearer chances, while Egypt relied on counter-attacks led by Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.

With no breakthrough in regulation time, the contest was decided from the penalty spot and that was where Nwabali made the difference.

The goalkeeper saved penalties from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, giving Nigeria the edge in a shootout they won 4–2. His anticipation, positioning, and composure under pressure proved decisive.

The victory offers some redemption for the Super Eagles after a difficult run of results in shootouts. Nigeria had lost on penalties to the Democratic Republic of Congo in November in a World Cup qualification playoff, and again three days earlier against hosts Morocco in the AFCON semi-final.

From a technical perspective, Nigeria showed defensive discipline throughout the match, limiting Egypt’s space between the lines and forcing them into low-percentage shots. The midfield controlled the tempo, while the back line remained compact against Egypt’s pace on the flanks.

This result also preserves Nigeria’s perfect record in AFCON third-place matches, having now won all eight bronze playoffs in the tournament’s history.

While the Super Eagles fell short of their ultimate goal of lifting the trophy, the bronze medal represents a positive conclusion to their campaign and a reminder of their depth, resilience, and competitive mentality.

For Nigeria, the night belonged to Stanley Nwabali, a goalkeeper whose performance under pressure once again underlined his growing importance to the national team.