Nigeria extend perfect bronze-medal record with penalty win over Egypt

Nigeria strengthened their unique legacy in TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations history after defeating Egypt 4–2 on penalties in Saturday’s third-place play-off, extending a flawless record in bronze-medal matches.

The Super Eagles held their nerve in Casablanca after a tense, goalless contest, with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerging as the decisive figure in the shoot-out.

The victory means Nigeria have now won all eight third-place matches they have contested at the AFCON finals — a record unmatched by any nation in the competition’s history.

Nigeria had already entered the play-off with an extraordinary reputation, having claimed bronze on every previous occasion they reached this stage.

Saturday’s success over Egypt not only preserved that perfect run, but also increased Nigeria’s overall bronze-medal tally to nine, further distancing them from their continental rivals.

While Egypt arrived with their own proud history in third-place matches — having won three of their previous five — they were unable to disrupt Nigeria’s dominance in this particular fixture.

The Pharaohs were edged out in a shoot-out that underlined the Super Eagles’ composure and consistency in high-pressure situations.

Historically, AFCON third-place matches have produced drama, goals and controversy, but Nigeria’s relationship with the bronze medal has been defined by control and efficiency.

From narrow wins in 2002 and 2006, to decisive victories in 2010 and 2019, and now another shoot-out triumph in 2025, the Super Eagles have repeatedly found a way to finish tournaments on the podium.

Saturday’s result also capped another strong AFCON campaign for Nigeria, who reached the semi-finals with the tournament’s most potent attack before falling narrowly to hosts Morocco on penalties.

Ending Morocco 2025 with silverware provides tangible reward for their consistency across the competition.

For Egypt, the defeat brought a frustrating end to a campaign that promised much, particularly after their dramatic quarter-final win over Côte d’Ivoire.

However, their long wait for another bronze medal continues, with their last third-place appearance dating back more than four decades.

As the tournament now turns its attention to Sunday’s final between Morocco and Senegal, Nigeria once again leave the Africa Cup of Nations with history intact — reaffirmed as Africa’s undisputed kings of the bronze-medal match.

Third place play-off results:

1962: Tunisia (1) 3 (Mohamed Salah Jedidi, Chadli Aouini, Rachid Meddeb) Uganda 0

1963: Egypt (2) 3 (Ibrahim Reda, Taha Ismail, Hassan Shazli) Ethiopia 0

1965: Côte d’Ivoire (1) 1 (Yobouet Konan 35’) Senegal 0

1968: Ethiopia 0 Côte d’Ivoire (1) 1 (Laurent Pokou 28’)

1970: Côte d’Ivoire (0) 1 (Laurent Pokou 72’) Egypt (2) 3 (Hassan Shazli 3’, 14’, 50’)

1972: Cameroon (5) 5 (Jean-Paul Akono 4’ pen, Gaston Paul Ndongo 31’, Norbert Owona 32’, Philippe Mouthe 34’, Jean Baptiste Ndoga 42’) Zaire (2) 2 (Emmanuel Kakoko 13’, Adelard Mayanga 17’)

1974: Egypt (3) 4 (Mostafa Abdou 5’, Hassan Shehata 18’, 80’, Ali Abougreisha 62’) Congo 0

1976: No third place match

1978: Nigeria (1) 1 (Baba Otu 42’) Tunisia (1) 1 (Ali Akid 19’). Match abandoned at 42’, Tunisia walked off in protest after the Nigerian goal.

1980: Egypt 0 Morocco (1) 2 (Khalid Labied 9’, 78’)

1982: Algeria 0 Zambia (2) 2 (Peter Kaumba 2’, Godfrey Munshya 25’)

1984: Algeria (0) 3 (Rabah Madjer 67’, Lakhdar Belloumi 70’, Hocine Yahi 88’) Egypt (0) 1 (Magdi Abdelghani 74’ pen)

1986: Côte d’Ivoire (2) 3 (Oumar Ben Salah 8’, Lucien Kassy Kouadio 38’, 68’ pen) Morocco (1) 2 (Abdelfettah Rhiati 44’, Mohamed Sahil 85’)

1988: Morocco (0) 1 (Hassen Nader 66’) Algeria (0) 1 (Lakhdar Belloumi 87’). Algeria won 4-3 on penalties.

1990: Senegal 0 Zambia (0) 1 (Webby Chikabala 73’)

1992: Cameroon (1) 1 (Emmanuel Kessack Maboang 85’) Nigeria (0) 2 (Friday Ekpo 75’, Rachidi Yekini 88’)

1994: Côte d’Ivoire (1) 3 (Adama Clofie Kone 2’, Ahmed Ouattara 68’, Donald-Olivier Sie 70’) Mali (0) 1 (Amadou Pathe Diallo 46’)

1996: Ghana 0 Zambia (0) 1 (Joel Bwalya 52’)

1998: Burkina Faso (1) 4 (Alassane Ouedraogo 6’, Oumar Barro 52’, Sidi Napon 56’, Ibrahim Talle 86’) DR Congo (0) 4 (Lokenge Mungongo 76’, 89’, Banza Kasongo 86’, Mbuilua Tondelua 88’). DR Congo won 4-1 on penalties.

2000: South Africa (1) 2 (Shaun Bartlett 11’, Siyabonga Nomvete 62’) Tunisia (1) 2 (Ali Zitouni 27’, 89’). South Africa won 4-3 on penalties.

2002: Mali 0 Nigeria (1) 1 (Yakubu Aiyegbeni 31’)

2004: Mali (0) 1 (Janvier Atouba 70’) Nigeria (1) 2 (Austin Okocha 17’, Peter Odemwingie 47’)

2006: Nigeria (0) 1 (Garba Lawal 79’) Senegal 0

2008: Ghana (1) 4 (Sulley Muntari 10’, Ouincy Owusu-Abeyie 70’, Junior Agogo 80’, Haminu Dramani 84’) Côte d’Ivoire (2) 2 (Boubacar Sanogo 24’, 32’)

2010: Algeria 0 Nigeria (0) 1 (Victor Obinna 56’)

2012: Ghana 0 Mali (1) 2 (Cheick Tidiane Diabate 23’, 80’)

2013: Ghana (0) 1 (Kwadwo Asamoah 82’) Mali (1) 3 (Mahamadou Samassa 21’, Seydou Keita 48’, Sigamary Diarra 89’)

2015: Equatorial Guinea 0 DR Congo 0. DR Congo won 4-2 on penalties.

2017: Burkina Faso (0) 1 (Alain Traoré 87’) Ghana 0

2019: Nigeria (1) 1 (Odion Ighalo 3’) Tunisia 0

2021: Cameroon (0) 3 (Stéphane Bahoken 71’, Vincent Aboubakar 85’, 87’) Burkina Faso (2) 3 (Steeve Yago 24’, André Onana 42’ o.g., Djibril Ouattara 49’). Cameroon won 5-3 on penalties.

2023: DR Congo 0 South Africa 0. South Africa won 6-5 on penalties

2025: Egypt 0 Nigeria 0. Nigeria won 4-2 on penalties