AFCON 2025: Nigeria v Egypt – Everything you need to know (Third-Place Play-off)

Nigeria and Egypt will face off in the third-place play-off of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with continental pride and a bronze medal at stake after both sides fell at the semi-final hurdle.

The Super Eagles and the Pharaohs meet on Saturday at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, renewing one of African football’s most enduring rivalries.

Nigeria arrive after a dramatic semi-final defeat on penalties to hosts Morocco, while Egypt’s long-standing dominance in the last four ended with a narrow 1–0 loss to Senegal.

Why this match matters

Although the final spotlight will fall elsewhere, history suggests neither Nigeria nor Egypt treats the third-place match lightly.

Nigeria are chasing a record ninth AFCON bronze medal and have won all seven third-place play-offs they have previously contested—an unblemished record that underlines their consistency at the tournament.

Egypt, meanwhile, are appearing in a third-place play-off for the first time this century and for the sixth time overall.

They have won three of their five previous matches at this stage and will be determined to end their AFCON 2025 campaign with a positive result.

A rivalry written into AFCON history

This will be the 10th meeting between Nigeria and Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations and the 20th overall.

Encounters between the two have rarely been straightforward.

Their only previous knockout clash came in the 1984 AFCON semi-final, which required penalties to separate them, while Nigeria edged Egypt 1–0 in the group stage of the 2021 tournament.

Nigeria team news

Nigeria’s tournament ended in heartbreak against Morocco after a goalless draw and a penalty shoot-out defeat, an outcome that contrasted sharply with their earlier attacking fluency.

Despite that setback, the Super Eagles remain one of the most balanced sides in the competition, particularly at the back.

They have kept clean sheets throughout the knockout phase and have not conceded a goal since the group stage—an indicator of the defensive solidity that has underpinned their run to the semi-finals.

Egypt team news

Egypt arrive in Casablanca still processing the disappointment of their defeat to Senegal, which marked their first AFCON semi-final loss in more than two decades.

The Pharaohs have struggled for attacking consistency in the latter stages of the tournament and are yet to record a clean sheet in the knockouts.

Much of their attacking responsibility continues to rest on Mohamed Salah, who remains Egypt’s primary creative outlet and is closing in on the all-time AFCON scoring record.

Match details

• Fixture: Nigeria vs Egypt

• Competition: AFCON 2025 Third-Place Play-off

• Venue: Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca

• Kick-off: 17:00 local time

How to watch

The match will be broadcast live on beIN Sports MENA, SuperSport, Canal+ Afrique and Arryadia TNT and others.

With two of Africa’s most successful nations seeking consolation after semi-final disappointment, Saturday’s play-off offers one final chapter in their AFCON 2025 journeys—where pride, history and a place on the podium are all on the line.