Nigeria secured third place at the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, defeating Egypt 4 to 2 on penalties after a scoreless draw in the bronze medal match in Casablanca.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was the decisive figure at Stade Mohamed V, saving spot kicks from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush to hand the Super Eagles victory in the shootout after 90 minutes ended without a goal.
The result marked Nigeria’s ninth third place finish in Africa Cup of Nations history, reinforcing the team’s consistent presence among the continent’s top sides.
Nigeria came close to winning the match in regulation time, twice seeing the ball hit the back of Egypt’s net only for both efforts to be ruled out.
Paul Onuachu thought he had given Nigeria the lead in the first half, but his goal was disallowed following a VAR review that confirmed he had elbowed Egypt defender Hamdi Fathy in the buildup.
After the break, substitute Ademola Lookman appeared to have broken the deadlock, only for the assistant referee to flag him offside. The decision was upheld, keeping the contest level.
Egypt, led by Salah, struggled to convert their chances and were unable to break through a disciplined Nigerian defense.
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With the match heading straight to penalties, Nwabali delivered when it mattered most. The goalkeeper denied Salah’s effort before stopping Marmoush’s attempt, swinging momentum firmly in Nigeria’s favor.
Nigeria converted four of their penalties, while Egypt missed two, sealing the Super Eagles’ place on the podium.
The third place finish offers Nigeria a positive conclusion to their AFCON campaign after falling short in the semifinals. It also highlights the emergence of Nwabali as a reliable presence between the posts heading into future international competitions.
For Egypt, the defeat capped a frustrating tournament that ended without a medal despite the presence of experienced stars and high expectations.