After suffering semifinal losses at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt and Nigeria meet in Casablanca on Saturday to determine who goes home with the bronze medal.
Both sides arrived in Morocco with genuine title ambitions. Both leave the semi-finals nursing deep disappointment. Senegal and hosts Morocco will contest the final, but before that, two of Africa’s true heavyweights will meet in a battle for bronze and a measure of psychological repair after painful near-misses.
Egypt’s ambition in Morocco was to win an eighth AFCON crown and end a 15-year wait for continental glory. Under Hossam Hassan, the Pharaohs arrived looking sharper, more athletic and more balanced than in recent tournaments, and they largely justified that belief with resilient performances.
Their route to the semi-finals was not always smooth. They needed extra time to see off Benin in the round of 16 and produced arguably their best display of the tournament in a thrilling 3-2 quarter-final win over Ivory Coast. But against Senegal in the last four, they finally ran out of answers.
In a tight, tense contest that seemed destined for extra time, Sadio Mané struck in the 78th minute with a fierce effort that beat Mohamed El Shenawy and ended Egyptian hopes. The Pharaohs pushed, but could not find a way back.
Nigeria’s journey has been just as emotionally draining. Eric Chelle’s side arrived in Morocco under pressure after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, but the Super Eagles steadily grew into the tournament and began to look like genuine contenders.
They reached the semi-finals playing some of the most balanced football of the competition; compact without the ball, dynamic in transition, and increasingly creative in the final third. But against hosts Morocco, they finally met a wall.
After a fierce, tactical 0-0 draw in Rabat, Nigeria’s first goalless game of the tournament, the Super Eagles fell in a dramatic penalty shootout. Stanley Nwabali saved one kick, but misses from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi proved fatal, allowing Youssef En-Nesyri to send Morocco into the final.
Now the Super Eagles and the Pharaohs must switch focus, rotate sensibly, and try to finish the tournament on a high.
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Head-to-head record
Historically, Nigeria have never lost an AFCON third-place match, boasting a perfect record in eight such encounters.
No nation have won more bronze medals than Nigeria (8), with only Cote d’Ivoire coming close with four.
This is, however, the first time the Super Eagles will face the Pharaohs in an AFCON third-place playoff.
Across all competitions, though, Nigeria hold the advantage in the head-to-head record, winning nine of 19 matches and losing just five.
Five of those Nigerian victories have been at the AFCON, where Egypt have managed only two wins in nine meetings. On the eve of AFCON 2025, Egypt claimed a 2-1 friendly win over Nigeria, although Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Mo Salah and Omar Marmoush all missed that game.
Team news
Egypt are expected to rotate, but it would be a major surprise if either Mohamed Salah or Omar Marmoush were completely rested.
However, Hossam Abdelmaguid is suspended after accumulating yellow cards, while Mohamed Hamdy remains sidelined with a serious knee injury.
Nigeria will also shuffle the pack. Calvin Bassey is suspended after being booked in the semi-final, while Ryan Alebiosu has been struggling with fitness issues.
Wilfred Ndidi is expected to return after sitting out the game against Morocco due to suspension. Star forward Victor Osimhen remains a doubt after suffering an ankle injury against Morocco and being forced off before the shootout.
That could push Chelle towards a front two of Paul Onuachu and Akor Adams, with Ademola Lookman operating just behind them.
Any of the new boys – Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Salim Fago Lawal, and Usman Mohammed – could also make their AFCON debut.
Key players to watch
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Even in disappointment, Salah has once again carried Egypt. The Liverpool forward has chipped in four goals and an assist in five games. If he features, Egypt’s entire attacking structure will revolve around his movement from the right and his ability to decide games in a single moment.
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
Arguably Nigeria’s best player at AFCON 2025. Three goals and four assists tell only part of the story as his ball-carrying, creativity between the lines and work-rate have made Nigeria tick. If Osimhen is absent, Lookman becomes the central figure in Nigeria’s attack.
Tactical view
Egypt are likely to play with greater freedom than they did against Senegal, possibly pushing more numbers forward and using Marmoush and Trezeguet closer to Mostafa Mohamed.
Nigeria, meanwhile, will probably stick to their familiar compact shape, looking to break with pace through Lookman, Simon and the wing-backs. Without Bassey, Chelle has a choice to make between Chidozie Awaziem and Igoh Ogbu at centre-back. The Super Eagles' midfield remains strong, with Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka forming a solid structure.
This could become a more open game than either semi-final.
Match details
- Match: Egypt vs Nigeria
- Competition: AFCON 2025 Third-place playoff
- Venue: Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca
- Date: Saturday, January 17
- Kick-off: 4:00pm GMT
- Referee: TBC
- VAR: In use
Probable line-ups
Egypt (4-2-3-1):
El Shenawy; Sobhi, Ibrahim, Rabia, Fatouh; Lasheen, Fathi; Salah, Marmoush, Trezeguet; Mostafa Mohamed
Nigeria (4-1-2-1-2):
Nwabali; Osayi-Samuel, Ogbu, Ajayi, Onyemaechi; Ndidi; Dele-Bashiru, Onyeka; Lookman; Simon, Onuachu
Match prediction
Third-place playoffs often produce surprisingly open football, and this one should be no different. Egypt will want to give their supporters something to cheer after another near-miss, but Nigeria’s athleticism, structure and attacking depth may yet prove decisive.
Even without Osimhen, the Super Eagles have shown they possess enough match-winners to hurt any side in the competition.
Nigeria’s greater balance and transition threat could be the difference, and enough to secure a small but meaningful consolation at the end of a long, bruising tournament.
- Prediction: Egypt 1-2 Nigeria
