Nigeria ended their penalty hoodoo by beating Egypt in a shootout to claim third place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following a goalless draw.
Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali brilliantly saved efforts from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, allowing Ademola Lookman to settle it despite attempted mind games from Pharaohs keeper Mostafa Shobeir.
The West Africans had lost to Morocco on spot-kicks in the semi-finals on Wednesday, while their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup were ended by DR Congo in a shootout back in November.
It was arguably a deserved result given Eric Chelle’s side showed more attacking intent during the 90 minutes in Casablanca and twice had the ball in the Egypt net.
Nigeria first had a goal ruled out nine minutes before half-time when referee Jalal Jayed decided Paul Onuachu had committed a foul in the build-up after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
Lookman, on as a substitute at the break, then had a close-range header quickly disallowed for an offside against Akor Adams early in the second half.
The result extends Nigeria’s perfect record in third-placed play-offs at Afcon, with eight victories in the match to add to their bronze medal at the 1976 tournament when a group stage was used to decide the title.
With Nigeria talisman Victor Osimhen an unused substitute, the outcome will boost the chances of Brahim Diaz securing the golden boot on home soil.
The Morocco playmaker has five goals – two ahead of Atlas Lions team-mate Ayoub El Kaabi and three more than Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Pape Gueye.
Senegal will face the hosts in the final in Rabat on Sunday (19:00 GMT), with the winners set to secure their second continental title and pick up $10m (£7.475m) in prize money.
