Stanley Nwabali turned hero on Saturday night as the Super Eagles outlasted Egypt 4–2 on penalties to snatch third place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, after a nerve-racking goalless clash in Casablanca.
With neither side able to break the deadlock after 90 tense minutes, the bronze-medal playoff went straight to a shootout, and that was where Nigeria stamped their authority. Nwabali stood tall, pulling off stunning saves to deny Mohamed Salah and Oumar Marmoush and keep Nigeria’s perfect record in AFCON third-place matches intact.
The Eagles lined up with a reshuffled side, as Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman were left on the bench. Despite the changes, Nigeria started brightly, with Akor Adams forcing the first real chance of the game inside the opening quarter-hour.
Drama followed in the 36th minute when Adams powered home a header, only for VAR to chalk it off after Paul Onuachu was penalised for an elbow in the build-up. The goal was ruled out, the striker booked, and the contest remained delicately balanced.
Nigeria came out stronger after the break. Lookman was introduced and quickly found the net, but once again celebrations were cut short as the flag went up for offside. Chances were few and far between as both sides cancelled each other out, sending the encounter to penalties.
The shootout began shakily for Nigeria when Fisayo Dele-Bashiru missed the opening kick, but Nwabali immediately swung momentum back by saving Salah’s effort. Akor Adams converted, Marmoush was denied, and Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi calmly dispatched their spot-kicks. After Mahmud Sabir scored for Egypt, Lookman stepped up and sealed the victory in style.
The triumph eased the pain of Nigeria’s semi-final heartbreak against hosts Morocco and capped off a strong tournament run that saw the Eagles top Group C before storming past Mozambique and Algeria.
In the end, it was another AFCON bronze night to remember for Nigeria, and another reminder that when penalties beckon, the Super Eagles always seem to have an ace in goal.
