Nigeria beat Egypt on penalties to claim AFCON bronze as Nwabali denies Salah
Nigeria edged Egypt 4-2 in a penalty shootout to win the Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal on Saturday after a scoreless 90 minutes, with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saving spot kicks from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush. Ademola Lookman converted the winning penalty to seal a cathartic finish to the Super Eagles’ campaign.
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The third-place playoff in Rabat did not go to extra time under tournament rules, placing immediate pressure on the kickers. Nwabali, sharp from the outset, guessed correctly to parry Salah’s well-struck opener and then reacted with his foot to block Marmoush’s effort down the middle. Egypt’s early misses proved decisive as Nigeria kept its nerve from the spot to secure a 4-2 shootout win.
Nwabali the difference, Salah stifled
Nwabali’s presence and timing set the tone in the shootout and capped a night in which Nigeria largely contained Salah in open play. The Liverpool forward, with 11 career AFCON goals, found little room to operate against a compact Nigerian back line, and his rare clear look came from 12 yards—only for Nwabali to meet it with a strong hand.
Nigeria’s defenders crowded central areas and limited Egypt’s quick combinations, steering the game into the low-risk patterns typical of a bronze playoff. When the opportunity finally arrived from the spot, their goalkeeper delivered the defining interventions.
Back-to-back shootouts, different ending
The Super Eagles returned to penalties for the second time in four days after their semifinal loss to Morocco on Wednesday. This time, composure held. Lookman’s clincher capped a tidy sequence of Nigerian conversions in contrast to the strain of the semifinal exit, showcasing the squad’s resilience to reset quickly at the end of a long tournament run.
Victor Osimhen remained on the bench, suggesting he carried a knock from the semifinal, when he was withdrawn late in extra time before the shootout. Without their leading striker, Nigeria leaned on structure, set pieces and transitions, and trusted that their goalkeeper would be ready if the match tightened toward penalties.
Egypt’s regret, Nigeria’s response
Egypt’s plan to lean on Salah’s gravity and Marmoush’s movement produced control in phases but few clear chances. Once the contest tilted to a goalkeeper’s game, the Pharaohs were punished for their early misfires from the spot. Nigeria, quicker to settle from 12 yards, turned a stalemate into silverware in five decisive kicks.
For Nigeria, the bronze offers a contrasting coda to the last edition, when the Super Eagles lost the final to host Ivory Coast. Third place is no substitute for a title, but it restores momentum and underlines a core strength: a defense capable of quieting the continent’s most dangerous forwards, backed by a goalkeeper unfazed by the moment.
What’s next: Morocco vs. Senegal in Sunday’s final
The tournament closes Sunday in Rabat, where Morocco and Senegal meet for the title. Senegal advanced with a 1-0 win over Egypt in their semifinal, sealed by Sadio Mane’s goal, while Morocco edged Nigeria on penalties in the other semifinal. The final pits Morocco’s balance and home support against Senegal’s experience and decisive edge in key moments.
Key takeaways from Nigeria 0, Egypt 0 (Nigeria win 4-2 on pens)
- Stanley Nwabali saved the first two penalties of the shootout, from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.
- Ademola Lookman scored the winning penalty as Nigeria converted four of its attempts.
- No extra time was played in the third-place game; it went straight to penalties after 90 minutes.
- Victor Osimhen stayed on the bench, pointing to lingering effects from the semifinal.
- The result gives Nigeria a bronze medal and a positive end to its AFCON after a semifinal shootout defeat to Morocco.
Nigeria’s night belonged to its goalkeeper, and to a collective resolve sharpened by recent disappointment. In a tournament defined by fine margins, the Super Eagles claimed the last word they could—and the one that matters most in a shootout: save, score, celebrate.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
