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Nigeria will be aiming to bow out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on a high when they take on Egypt in a third-place play-off on Saturday. 

The Super Eagles are fresh off a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to hosts Morocco, but are expected to bounce back against the Pharaohs of Egypt with a podium finish at the 2025 AFCON. 

Egypt, on the other hand, lost out to Senegal in the semi-final of the continental showpiece, failing to extend their record seven titles at the AFCON. 

Nigeria have the highest number of bronze medals at the AFCON, winning it eight times. The last time they achieved that feat was coincidentally in Egypt 2019 when the West African defeated Tunisia courtesy of an Odion Ighalo lone strike. 

The Super Eagles’ third-place finishes in 1976, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2019 underline their dominance in African football. 

Egypt vs Nigeria: Team News Ahead of Bronze Battle

Going into Saturday’s match, the Super Eagles will be without defence strongman, Calvin Bassey. The Fulham man was suspended after getting a yellow card in the loss to Morocco. But captain Wilfred Ndidi, who missed that game due to a similar issue, is back in contention.

Coach Eric Chelle will most likely feature a familiar lineup as the Nigerians seek to finish the AFCON in good standing. 

Egypt vs Nigeria: Head-to-Head Record

Both teams are not new to themselves at the AFCON. At the 2021 edition, Kelechi Iheanacho scored the lone goal to give Nigeria all three points in Cameroon. That was in a group stage match.  

While they have met 25 times, Saturday’s game will be their 10th tie at the AFCON. The Super Eagles, fortunately, have the upper hand, winning five of the matches and drawing two. 

Egypt vs Nigeria: Match Details for Third-Place AFCON Game

Competition: 2025 AFCON

Venue: Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca

Kick-Off time: 5: 00 pm (WAT)

Date: 17 January, 2026

READ ALSO: AFCON Final: Senegal Raise Concerns Over Security, Ticketing, Others

Egypt vs Nigeria: Who Will Pick the Bronze Medal? 

Morocco and Senegal square off in a heavyweight Africa Cup of Nations final showdown on Sunday, with the host nation hoping a divided public will inspire them to win their first continental title in a generation.

Morocco, the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2022, and Walid Regragui’s team, were the favorites to win the competition.

Since leaving the last AFCON in Ivory Coast in the last 16 to South Africa, they haven’t lost in two years, and Achraf Hakimi, the current African footballer of the year, is their captain.

All of that implies that Morocco has been under enormous pressure to deliver since the start of this tournament, which has been the first held in Morocco since 1988 and the first AFCON to begin and end in one year.

Morocco have won over their demanding fans as the tournament has progressed, winning all of their matches at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where they were booed by their own supporters during the group stage.

Nearly 70 000 Moroccan fans will throng the stadium in anticipation of their team winning the trophy following their dominating victory over Cameroon in the quarter-finals and nerve-wracking victories over Nigeria in the semi-final on Wednesday.

We “mean” it deserves to compete in the final. Regragui, who has received frequent criticism from the expectant public, said, “We have played top teams like Mali, Cameroon, and Nigeria, and now we will be facing one of the best teams.”

“Eventually, people will come to terms with Morocco’s significant football country.” However, we must win titles in order to advance to the next step, so Sunday’s game is crucial in our history.

Regragui is mindful of the nation’s lackluster performance in the tournament, where they only won once in 1976 in Ethiopia.

The Moroccan team reached the final after losing to Tunisia in 2004 as the country’s top team. He wants to improve this time.

By the time the World Cup begins in June, he is likely to be in charge if he doesn’t.

Regragui remarked, “Even if we had been knocked out in the first round, that would not have prevented me from believing in myself and declaring that I am a good coach.”

“It is impossible for me to forget what I did in the past.” I’m not expecting anything from anyone. I don’t make up my mind that I am the best. Morocco’s participation in the final is what is most crucial.

READ MORE: The Senegalese Hope Morocco Final Will Not Be Mane’s AFCON Goodbye.

Farewell to Mane from AFCON

Senegal, who are Africa’s second-best team in the rankings and have reached the third final in four AFCON games, could not have asked for a tougher opponent than the hosts.

The Lions of Teranga won the title for the first time in Yaounde in 2022 when they defeated Egypt on penalties in Cairo in Cairo in 2019.

After being defeated by Ivory Coast in the final 16 of 2024, they regained their complacency and won the tournament’s final with a Sadio Mane strike that beat Egypt in the final four.

Mane, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, skipper Kalidou Koulibaly, and midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye are all between the ages of 33 and 36, making it an ageing and vastly experienced Senegalese side.

Mane, a former Liverpool player, declared that this would be his final Cup of Nations game following the Egypt game.

“I am a soldier of the nation, and I give it my all,” Mane said.

“But for me, that’s not the most crucial thing. Bringing this cup to Dakar is crucial, right?

Senegal will lose to Senegal in the final between two outstanding defenses because of Koulibaly’s suspension. At the tournament, they have each allowed three goals.

The Senegalese national team have raised concerns over security arrangements, ticketing, accommodation, and training facilities ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.

The country’s team will take to the pitch in the AFCON 2025 final following a victory recorded against Egypt in the semi-final on Wednesday.

A statement released on Saturday by the Secretariat of the Teranga Lions of Senegal to the Confederation of African Football and the public, noted that it was compelled to speak out “for the sake of transparency and defence of the interests of the Senegal national team,” following what it described as several malfunctions observed during preparations for the final.

It drew attention to lapses in security during the team’s arrival in Morocco.

“The FSF deplores the clear absence of adequate safety device when the Senegalese delegation arrived at the Rabat railway station,” the communiqué read, warning that the situation exposed players and officials “to a promiscuity and risks incompatible with the standards of a competition of this magnitude and the standing of a continental final.”

Another major source of frustration, according to the federation, is ticketing issues.

“The official endowment is only two VVIP tickets,” the FSF said, lamenting the lack of access to VIP and VVIP tickets for the final, unlike the semi-finals.

While the federation confirmed it had purchased the maximum number of tickets authorised by CAF — 300 Category 1, 850 Category 2, and 1,700 Category 3 — it stressed that “these quantities, although fully acquired, remain insufficient in relation to demand.”

On preparations on the pitch, Senegal rejected the proposed training venue, citing concerns over fairness.

“The FSF has officially notified the Confederation of African Football (CAF) of its categorical refusal to hold its training sessions at the Mohammed VI Complex,” the communiqué stated, explaining that the facility serves as “the base camp of the opposing team, which raises a problem of sporting fairness.”

It further noted that, as of the time of the statement, Senegal had “not yet received notification from the training site of the Senegal national team.”

READ ALSO: ACF Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso Dies At 76

The federation also disclosed challenges surrounding the team’s accommodation, revealing that formal action was required before acceptable arrangements were made.

“Regarding hotel logistics, the FSF informs that an official protest by mail was necessary to win the case,” the statement said, adding that “a 5-star hotel was finally awarded to the Lions, thus guaranteeing the required recovery conditions.”

ACF Fiorentina President, Rocco Commisso, has died at the age of 76.

The Italian club announced in the early hours of Saturday, saying he died after a prolonged period of medical treatment.

Fiorentina confirmed Commisso’s passing in a statement published on its website, describing it as a painful loss for his family, the club, and the wider football community.

The statement read, “After a prolonged period of medical treatment, our beloved President has left us, and today we all mourn his passing.

“For his family, he was an example and a guiding light, a loyal and faithful man who, alongside his wife Catherine, reached the milestone of 50 years of marriage, and who was a strict yet loving father to his children, just as his character was: gentle and determined.”

The club noted that he and his wife had been married for 50 years, describing him as a devoted family man and a guiding figure to those around him.

According to the statement, the American-Italian businessman took over Fiorentina seven years ago, during which time he became closely identified with the club, its supporters, and the city of Florence.

It said under his leadership, Fiorentina reached two UEFA Conference League finals and one Coppa Italia final.

Football, the club said, was one of Commisso’s greatest passions, and Fiorentina became central to his life following his takeover of the Viola.

He was known for his close relationship with supporters and his personal approach, often insisting on being called simply “Rocco.”

“His love for Fiorentina was the greatest gift he gave himself, spending unforgettable days with the boys and girls of the youth teams, always offering a caring gesture and a smile to everyone. Tireless, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to his companies, Mediacom and Fiorentina, and to their future. Football was his passion, and Fiorentina became so seven years ago, when Rocco took charge of the Viola club and began to love its supporters, its colours, and the city of Florence. ‘Call me Rocco,’ he had simply said to everyone, with his extraordinary empathy.

“He was always close to Florence and the Florentines, in everyday life and also during the most difficult period of the Covid emergency, when the ‘Forza e Cuore’ campaign provided substantial donations to the city’s hospitals,” the statement said.

“The Rocco B. Commisso Viola Park, the home of Fiorentina, will live forever bearing his name—an indelible symbol of his affection and his desire to look toward the future of young people. The boys and girls who grew up under his guidance in the youth academy, have won trophies and continue their journey with Fiorentina’s men’s and women’s first teams,” the statement added.

READ ALSO: AFCON: CAF Names Moroccan Referee For Egypt Vs Nigeria Third-Place Match

The club said the Commisso family expressed gratitude to those who supported him during his final days and said his memory would remain alive in the hearts of all who knew and worked with him.

“A heartfelt thought in this moment of great sadness goes to everyone at Fiorentina—staff, players, and employees—to the entire Viola community, and especially to the boys and girls who will continue to carry the Viola colours and the memory of our Rocco throughout Italy and the world,” the statement added.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Moroccan Jalal Jayed as the referee for Nigeria’s third-place playoff against Egypt in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

CAF announced Jayed’s appointment on Friday. The Moroccan will be assisted by his compatriots Zakaria Brinsi and Akarkad Mostafa.

The assistant referee 3, according to CAF, is Hassani Khalil from Tunisia while the 4th official is Peter Kamaku from Kenya.

Algeria’s Lahlou Benbraham will be the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). He will be assisted by Haythem Guirat from Tunisia and Hamza El Fariq (Morocco).

READ ALSO: [AFCON Nigeria Shift Attention To Third-Place Match After Morocco Heartbreak

Your Match officials for (17 January,2026)

️⚽️ Egypt vs Nigeria #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/JUXSaJBclF

The referee assessor is Sinko Zelli of Cote d’Ivoire.

Nigeria take on Egypt on Saturday, days after Morocco beat the Super Eagles 4-2 on penalties in the second semi-final of the 2025 AFCON.

The match ended goalless after 120 minutes, but the hosts saw off the three-time African champions to reach the final of the competition and take on the Teranga Lions of Senegal in Sunday’s final.

Nigeria take on Egypt on Saturday, days after Morocco beat the Super Eagles 4-2 on penalties in the second semi-final of the 2025 AFCON.

Saturday’s game is Nigeria’s ninth appearance in the third-place play-offs. The Super Eagles have won all eight bronze medal games, the highest tally in the tournament’s history.

Nigeria missed out on the 2026 World Cup following a penalty shoot out loss to DR Congo in the final of the play-offs for the competiton.

They had turned to the AFCON to make up for that. En route to the semi-finals, the Super Eagles were profilic, scoring 14 goals including a 4-0 demolition of Mozambique and a dominant 2-0 victory over the Desert Foxes of Algeria.

Rival 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final coaches in Rabat on Sunday, Walid Regragui of Morocco and Pape Thiaw of Senegal, have both experienced the heartbreak of losing a title decider as players.

Striker Thiaw was part of the Senegal squad that lost the 2002 AFCON final on penalties after a 0-0 draw with defending champions Cameroon.

Full-back Regragui played in the following final, two years later, which Morocco lost 2-1 to hosts Tunisia.

Senegal have played in two subsequent AFCON title deciders, losing to Algeria in 2019 and defeating Egypt on penalties three years later.

But before the 2025 AFCON, Morocco never progressed beyond the quarter-finals in eight attempts since finishing runners-up in Tunisia.

Regragui created history in 2022 when he coached Morocco to the World Cup semi-finals, shocking Belgium, Spain, and Portugal en route.

It was the first time an African nation had reached the last four in the quadrennial global showpiece.

What made the achievement more remarkable was that Regragui had taken charge of the Atlas Lions just three months before the World Cup kicked off after Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic was sacked.

READ ALSO: [AFCON] Nigeria Shift Attention To Third-Place Match After Morocco Heartbreak

Morocco mocked form and tradition by topping a group including Croatia and Belgium, then eliminated Spain on penalties and Portugal before falling to France.

Based on their performances in Qatar, Morocco were overwhelming favourites to win the 2024 AFCON in the Ivory Coast.

But after cruising to the round of 16, they came unstuck against South Africa. A brilliant Teboho Mokoena goal, direct from a free-kick, sealed a 2-0 victory for the underdogs.

Having qualified comfortably for the 2026 World Cup, Morocco are now one victory away from ending a 50-year wait for a second AFCON title after winning the 1976 tournament in Ethiopia.

“We are considered firm favourites to win this AFCON. I read that we will win the tournament comfortably. That if we do not win, our campaign will be judged a failure,” Regragui told reporters.

 ‘Lacked humility’ 

“My task, and the job of my staff and the senior players, is to keep our feet on the ground and remember why Morocco has not won the AFCON for 50 years.

“We have not won the AFCON because we lacked humility in many of the tournaments, and we must not fall into that trap again.

“Morocco have progressed since that loss to South Africa. The squad has been rejuvenated. We have introduced young players while retaining the experienced core of the team.

“We came into this tournament with confidence, but nothing is guaranteed,” said the 50-year-old born in a southern suburb of Paris.

Regragui was capped 44 times by Morocco during a 14-year playing career, spent mainly in France. He had two seasons with Racing Santander in Spain and one with Moghreb Tetouan in Morocco.

Before taking charge of the Atlas Lions, his major coaching achievement was leading Wydad Casablanca to victory over Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the 2022 CAF Champions League final.

After the disappointment of losing the 2002 AFCON final, Thiaw went to the World Cup in South Korea and Japan later that year.

Senegal stunned defending champions France 1-0 in the opening match and exceeded expectations by reaching the quarter-finals, where they fell to Turkey.

Dakar-born Thiaw scored five goals in 16 national team appearances and played for clubs in France, Switzerland, Russia, and Spain before retiring in 2009.

After three seasons coaching Niarry Tally, a club bankrolled by a biscuit company, he was put in charge of the Senegal team preparing for the 2023 African Nations Championship (CHAN), a competition restricted to home-based footballers.

Thiaw unexpectedly led his country to glory, defeating hosts and favourites Algeria on penalties in the final after a goalless draw.

Now 44, he succeeded Aliou Cisse as coach of the senior national team in December 2024 and has lost just once — to Brazil in a London friendly match.