Nigeria Clinches AFCON Bronze After Penalty Shootout Victory Over Egypt

Nigeria emerged as the bronze medallists in the Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Egypt 4-2 in a penalty shootout during the third-place playoff held in Casablanca on Saturday.

Following a goalless draw in regulation time, the match proceeded directly to penalty kicks, where Nigeria triumphed, extending their record for the most AFCON bronze medals. Despite missing their initial penalty, the Super Eagles regained composure and successfully converted their subsequent attempts, while Egypt faltered, particularly among their players from the English Premier League.

In the early stages of the match, Egypt displayed dominance through significant ball possession but failed to capitalize on their opportunities. The Nigerian defense, under pressure, resorted to tactical interventions to thwart Egyptian advances, exemplified by a rough challenge from Bright Osayi-Samuel that resulted in a free kick for Egypt in the 12th minute. Mostafa Mohamed squandered this chance, sending his effort wide and conceding a goal kick to Nigeria.

Egypt’s attempts to penetrate Nigeria’s defense continued, with Trezeguet’s effort in the 13th minute ultimately cleared by Igoh Ogbu. Similarly, Emam Ashour’s breakaway in the 16th minute was met with steadfast defense from the Super Eagles, with Semi Ajayi successfully clearing the ball.

In the 34th minute, a promising one-on-one exchange between Mohanad Lasheen and Trezeguet was thwarted by Nigeria’s goalkeeper, who effectively anticipated the attack. The Super Eagles subsequently shifted momentum and scored in the 36th minute when Samuel Chukwueze found Akor Adams, whose header breached Egyptian keeper Oufa Shobeir’s defenses. However, the joy was short-lived as a VAR review disallowed the goal due to a preceding infringement, much to Nigeria’s dismay.

Disappointment struck again for Nigeria shortly after halftime when Ademola Lookman’s goal in the 46th minute was ruled offside. Head coach Eric Chelle was compelled to substitute the injured Bright Osayi-Samuel in the 65th minute, bringing in Alex Iwobi.

As the match progressed, Egypt made a strong appeal for a penalty when Omar Marmoush fell inside the box. Despite the referee initially allowing play to continue, he later consulted VAR footage in the 82nd minute, ultimately dismissing the penalty claims.

Further injury concerns plagued Nigeria in added time when Semi Ajayi was forced off, with Chidozie Awaziem taking his place. With no goals in regulation time, the match culminated in a penalty shootout.

Nigeria’s Fisayo Dele-Bashir missed their first attempt, but Akor Adams, Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi, and Ademola Lookman subsequently converted their penalties. For Egypt, Mohamed Salah and Marmoush missed their shots, while Rami Rabia and Mahmoud Saber scored.

Stanley Nwabali, a former target for Kaizer Chiefs, played a crucial role by denying both Salah and Marmoush, proving to be the decisive factor in the match between these African powerhouses. His standout performance ensured Nigeria maintained their flawless record in AFCON third-place playoffs, having won all seven such matches prior to this encounter.

Salah, leaving Morocco with disappointment, fell short of his goal to secure the AFCON title. His failure during the penalty shootout was particularly notable, as he had an opportunity to equal Hassan El-Shazly’s record as Egypt’s top AFCON scorer with 11 goals.