Nigeria ended their Africa Cup of Nations campaign on a positive note by defeating Egypt 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out after a goalless draw in the third-place play-off on Saturday. Ademola Lookman calmly converted the decisive spot-kick to secure victory for the Super Eagles in Casablanca, providing consolation after a tournament filled with narrow disappointments.
The win was especially meaningful for Nigeria, who had recently endured heartbreak from the penalty spot. Last November, the Super Eagles were denied a place in the 2026 World Cup intercontinental play-offs after losing a shoot-out against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Just days earlier, they had suffered another painful exit at the AFCON, losing on penalties to tournament hosts Morocco in the semi-finals.
This time, however, Nigeria finally found redemption. Their success also preserved a remarkable record, as the Super Eagles maintained a perfect streak in AFCON third-place matches, winning all eight play-offs they have contested in the competition’s history.
The penalty shoot-out did not begin smoothly for Nigeria. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru missed the opening kick, briefly giving Egypt the advantage. However, Akor Adams, captain Moses Simon, and Alex Iwobi all converted confidently to restore control. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali then emerged as the hero, producing crucial saves that shifted the momentum firmly in Nigeria’s favor.
For Egypt, Premier League stars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush both saw their penalties saved by Nwabali, a turning point that proved decisive. Although Ramy Rabia and Mahmoud Saber successfully found the net, Lookman stepped up with composure to score the winning kick and seal a morale-boosting victory.
Both teams made several changes from their semi-final defeats just three days earlier. Egypt made six alterations to the side that lost to Senegal, while Nigeria rotated five players following their defeat to Morocco. Salah retained the captain’s armband for the Pharaohs, but regular starters Mohamed El Shenawy and Marmoush were initially named among the substitutes.
Nigeria, too, rested some of their biggest names. Star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, both former African Player of the Year winners, began the match on the bench as coach Eric Chelle opted to test his squad depth in the play-off.
Despite the match taking place in Morocco, the majority of the near-capacity 45,000 crowd at Stade Mohammed V appeared to support Nigeria. Egyptian possession was often met with whistles, and loud boos echoed whenever head coach Hossam Hassan appeared on the stadium’s big screen. The backing for Nigeria was widely attributed to the intense football rivalry between Morocco and Egypt at both club and international levels.
On the pitch, the opening half was tightly contested. Nigeria enjoyed early spells of control before Egypt responded with periods of dominance, but neither side managed to break the deadlock in a cautious and physical first half played under cool, cloudy conditions.
Nigeria thought they had taken the lead in the 36th minute when Paul Onuachu nodded the ball past goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir. However, a VAR review by the Moroccan referee ruled out the goal after determining that Onuachu had accidentally struck Hamdy Fathy with his elbow in the build-up. The striker was shown a yellow card, adding to Nigeria’s frustration.
At halftime, the score remained goalless, but Nigeria returned for the second half with renewed intent. Coach Eric Chelle introduced Lookman in place of Onuachu, and the substitution had an immediate impact. Within the opening minute of the second period, Lookman found the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Despite the setback, Nigeria continued to press. After a relatively uneventful first half, Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir was forced into action repeatedly, making several important saves as Nigeria increased the tempo and attacked with greater urgency.
Egypt struggled to find fluency in attack. Salah, closely marked throughout, rarely found space to operate. On the few occasions he cut inside with the ball, Nigeria’s defense reacted swiftly to neutralize the threat. Marmoush was eventually introduced after the hour mark in an attempt to inject energy into a blunt Egyptian forward line.
As the match moved into the final stages, it became increasingly clear that Victor Osimhen would not feature, raising doubts about his fitness. Nigeria continued to create half-chances, but neither side managed to find the decisive breakthrough.
In the closing minutes, both teams had opportunities to snatch a late winner. Akor Adams came close for Nigeria, while Marmoush threatened at the other end, but pressure from defenders prevented either player from delivering a decisive finish.
Egypt had one final opportunity when Salah was awarded a free-kick just outside the penalty area. The Liverpool forward, known for his dead-ball ability, struck the ball firmly, but it flew straight into the defensive wall and was quickly cleared, summing up Egypt’s frustrating evening.
With the score still level after 90 minutes, the match headed to penalties. This time, Nigeria showed greater composure and resilience, finally reversing their recent misfortune from the spot.
For the Super Eagles, the victory offered a sense of closure and pride after falling just short of their ultimate goals. While the tournament did not end with a trophy, finishing third provided a reminder of Nigeria’s strength, depth, and consistency on the African stage.
Egypt, meanwhile, were left to reflect on missed opportunities and an inability to convert chances when it mattered most. Despite possessing star power and experience, the Pharaohs were unable to overcome Nigeria’s discipline and goalkeeping heroics.
The third-place play-off may not carry the prestige of a final, but for Nigeria, it represented redemption, resilience, and a valuable psychological boost heading into future competitions.
As African football continues to grow in intensity and quality, matches like this highlight the fine margins that separate success from disappointment. For Nigeria, the lesson was clear: perseverance pays off.
For more AFCON news, match reports, and football analysis, visit netsports247.com.
