Nwabali Stars As Nigeria Defeat Egypt On Penalties To Win AFCON Bronze

Nigeria’s Super Eagles ended their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign on a positive note, defeating Egypt 4–2 on penalties after a goalless draw at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.

‎The victory ensures Nigeria remains perfect in AFCON third-place playoff matches, adding another bronze medal to their rich history in the competition.

‎A Flat First Half Lacking Urgency

‎As is often the case with third-place fixtures, motivation appeared difficult to summon for both sides. The opening 45 minutes reflected that mood, slow tempo, cautious play, and limited attacking ambition.

‎Despite a healthy turnout of fans in Casablanca, chances were scarce, and neither team found a sustained rhythm.

‎Nigeria briefly believed they had broken the deadlock nine minutes before the interval. Samuel Chukwueze forced a strong save from Oufa Shobeir with a close-range header, then recovered the rebound and floated a delicate chip toward Akor Adams.

‎The striker adjusted superbly to nod home from close range only for VAR to intervene. After reviewing the buildup, the referee ruled that Paul Onuachu had impeded Hamdy Fathy, wiping out what would have been an important opener.

‎With that, the first half ended goalless, a fair reflection of the contest.

‎Second-Half Drama, but No Goals

‎Looking for more urgency after the break, Nigerian head coach Eric Chelle introduced Ademola Lookman for Onuachu at halftime.

‎The impact was immediate. With his very first touch, Lookman placed the ball into the net inside the opening minute of the second half, sparking brief celebrations from the Nigerian supporters.

‎But once again, VAR played a decisive role, ruling the goal out for offside.

‎Egypt, still emotionally bruised from their narrow 1–0 semi-final loss to Senegal, struggled to find their spark. Their play lacked the creativity and sharpness typically associated with the Pharaohs, and Mohamed Salah, though ever dangerous, was unable to influence the match consistently.

‎The second half mirrored the first, low tempo, few risks, and little quality in the final third. In fact, only two shots on target were recorded across the entire 90 minutes, both by Nigeria.

‎With neither team able to break the deadlock, the match drifted toward its inevitable conclusion: a penalty shootout.

‎Nwabali the Hero as Penalties Decide the Contest

‎The shootout began dramatically as both Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Mohamed Salah saw their opening penalties saved. Nigeria seized the momentum when Akor Adams converted their second attempt, and Stanley Nwabali denied Omar Marmoush moments later.

‎Moses Simon stepped up and confidently made it 2-0, giving Nigeria a firm grip on proceedings.

‎Egypt responded through Ramy Rabia, who kept hope alive, but Alex Iwobi restored Nigeria’s two-goal cushion with a calm, composed finish from the spot.

‎Mahmoud Sabar then converted for Egypt, but the outcome depended on Lookman.

‎The Atalanta forward made no mistake, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and sealing the 4–2 victory, triggering loud celebrations from the large Nigerian contingent in the stadium.

‎A Bronze Medal with Meaning

‎While third-place matches rarely carry the intensity of finals, Nigeria’s victory showcased resilience, discipline, and composure under pressure.

‎Eric Chelle’s side departed AFCON with something tangible to celebrate, and the result maintains the nation’s proud record in playoff fixtures.