Nwabali’s Heroics Help Nigeria Beat Egypt To Win AFCON Bronze

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The Super Eagles defeated Egypt to claim bronze at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved two penalties as the team’s hero. &nbsp,

After 90 minutes, the game ended goalless and crossed penalties. The Super Eagles won 2-4 after Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush’s efforts were saved by the Chippa United goalkeeper.

After suffering disappointments from shoot-outs that prevented them from competing in the 2026 World Cup and the 2025 AFCON final, the Super Eagles won in Casablanca.

At the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on January 17, 2026, Nigeria’s goalkeeper #23 Stanley Nwabali reacts after saving the penalty saved by Egypt’s forward #10 Mohamed Salah (unseen) during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) third-place football match between Nigeria and Egypt. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT/AFP)

In a play-off to advance to the World Cup intercontinental play-offs, Nigeria lost to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in November.

Then, three days later, they lost in the semi-finals of the AFCON to hosts Morocco.

Success won seven AFCON titles before falling short of the previous best-place finishers.

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

Egypt and Nigeria play in the third-place football match of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on January 17, 2026. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT/AFP)

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru missed the Eagles’ opening kick before Lookman scored, and Alex Iwobi, Akor Adams, Moses Simon, and Alex Iwobi scored.

Before Ramy Rabia and Mahmoud Saber scored, Stanley Nwabali saved both Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush kicks in the Premier League.

brick wall in Nigeria
TotalEnergies’ Man of the Match is Stanley Nwabali. #Football2Gether #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 twitter.com/IyGSiGMBHe

Three days prior, Egypt made six changes to the semi-final teams that lost to Senegal and Morocco, respectively.

Egypt’s No. 10 forward Mohamed Salah prepares to take a penalty on January 17, 2026 during the Mohammed V Stadium’s third-place football game between Egypt and Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT/AFP)

The Pharaohs made their debut with Captain Salah, with Mohamed El Shenawy and Marmoush being the traditional first choices.

On the bench for Nigeria, Victor Osimhen and Lookman, both of whom were previous recipients of the annual African player of the year award, sat.

Most Moroccans backed Nigeria in a crowd that nearly ascended to the 45, 000-capacity Stade Mohammed V. When coach Hossam Hassan appeared on television and whenever Egypt gained possession, they whistled.

The great rivalry between Morocco and Egypt, both on national and club levels, is credited with giving the Super Eagles their support.

Goals were not permitted

A VAR decision overturns the team’s first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) third-place football game between Egypt and Nigeria at Casablanca on January 17, 2026. Nigeria’s #22 Akor Adams celebrates scoring the team’s first goal.

On a cold, cloudy evening in the Moroccan commercial capital, Nigeria and then Egypt both had dominance moments in a goalless opening half.

Onuachu deflected the ball past goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir with his head before breaking the deadlock on 36 minutes.

However, a Moroccan referee’s VAR review revealed that Onuachu had unintentionally elbowed Hamdy Fathy. The Nigerian received a yellow card after the goal was blocked.

On January 17, 2026, Egypt’s midfielder Emam Ashour and Nigeria’s midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru square off in the Mohammed V Stadium’s third-place football match. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT/AFP)

In the opening minute of the second period, Lookman found himself in the net in the net in the absence of Onuachu, who had been replaced by coach Eric Chelle. The goal was foreseen as being offside, though.

Following the break, Nigeria launched a number of attacks. Shobeir, the son of former Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed Shobeir, was forced to make several saves following a generally uneventful opening half.

Salah never threatened, and the potential danger was quickly avoided when he did when Salah did cut in with the ball. As the play-off approached the hour mark to try to increase a blunt strike force, Marshmoush came on.

However, as the final ten minutes of the match progressed, Osimhen’s absence suggested that he might not have been fully fit.

Adams, Marmoush, and Marmoush both threatened to score in a flash, but neither was able to put the finishing touch on the board when the other players demanded it.