Nigeria’s Super Eagles will battle seven-time champions Egypt on 16 January in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations third-place (bronze medal) match, as both sides seek to end their Morocco 2025 campaigns on a high.
Nigeria are chasing a record ninth AFCON bronze medal, while Egypt, three-time bronze winners, are aiming to add another podium finish to their storied continental history.
Kick-off is set for 17h00 local time (16h00 GMT).
Road to the AFCON 2025 Third-Place Match
The Super Eagles were eliminated in heartbreaking result in the semi-finals, after a 0–0 draw with hosts Morocco, eventually losing 4–2 on penalties.
Egypt, on the other hand, fell 1–0 to defending champions Senegal, ending a long run of semi-final success.
Both teams now turn their attention to the bronze medal play-off, a fixture that has often produced drama, goals and historic moments.
AFCON Rivalry: Nigeria vs Egypt
This match marks the 10th AFCON meeting between the two African heavyweights and their 20th overall encounter.
Overall Head-to-Head
- Nigeria: P20 W8 D6 L6 GF29 GA24 GD +5
- Egypt: P20 W6 D6 L8 GF24 GA29 GD -5
AFCON Meetings Only
- Nigeria: P9 W5 D2 L2 GF12 GA13
- Egypt: P9 W2 D2 L5 GF13 GA12
Past AFCON Meetings Breakdown
- 1963 (Group Stage): Egypt 6–3 Nigeria
- 1976 (Second Group Stage): Nigeria 3–2 Egypt
- 1980 (Group Stage): Nigeria 1–0 Egypt
- 1984 (Semi-final): Nigeria 2–2 Egypt (Nigeria won on penalties)
- 1988 (Group Stage): Nigeria 0–0 Egypt
- 1990 (Group Stage): Nigeria 1–0 Egypt
- 1994 (Group Stage): Nigeria 0–0 Egypt
- 2010 (Group Stage): Egypt 3–1 Nigeria
- 2021 (Group Stage): Nigeria 1–0 Egypt
This will be their second AFCON meeting on Moroccan soil, following their clash in 1988.
Recent Encounters
Nigeria won their two AFCON-related meetings prior to Egypt’s most recent success:
- March 2019 Friendly (Asaba): Nigeria 1–0 Egypt
- AFCON 2021 Group Stage: Nigeria 1–0 Egypt
Egypt won the most recent meeting, a friendly on 16 December 2025, defeating Nigeria 2–1, with Mahmoud Saber and Mostafa Mohamed scoring, while Chidozie Awaziem netted for Nigeria.
Nigeria’s 2019 friendly victory ended a seven-match winless run against Egypt and was their first win over the Pharaohs in 29 years at the time.
AFCON Third-Place Play-Off History
- This will be the 32nd AFCON third-place play-off
- 87 goals scored across 31 matches (average 2.85 goals per game)
- 13 matches saw both teams score
- Five play-offs decided by penalties (1988, 1998, 2000, 2015, 2023)
- Biggest win: Egypt 4–0 Congo (1974)
- Highest-scoring match: Burkina Faso 4–4 DR Congo (1998)
Nigeria: Key Tournament Statistics
- Eliminated by Morocco on penalties in the semi-finals
- Had scored in 12 successive AFCON matches before the semi-final
- 14 goals scored at this tournament; their highest ever at an AFCON
- Have contested seven third-place matches and won all seven
- Officially finished third eight times
- Last third-place match: 2019 – Nigeria 1–0 Tunisia
- Have never lost a third-place play-off
- None of Nigeria’s third-place matches have gone to penalties
- Have finished in the AFCON top three 16 times; more than any nation
- Are on a 357-minute run without conceding a goal
- Stanley Nwabali made five saves in the semi-final
- Calvin Bassey completed 102 of 115 passes against Morocco
- Have committed 120 fouls, the most at the tournament
Egypt: Key Tournament Statistics
- Semi-final loss to Senegal was their first AFCON semi-final defeat this century
- Appearing in a third-place play-off for the sixth time
- Record: Won 3, Lost 2
- Previous bronze wins: 1963, 1970, 1974
- Have never played a third-place match decided by penalties
- Have conceded five goals at the tournament
- Failed to register a shot on target in 90 minutes vs Senegal
- Mohamed Salah has created 12 chances, the most in the squad
- Omar Marmoush has six shots on target, the most by an Egyptian player
- Salah has 11 AFCON goals and could equal Hassan El-Shazly as Egypt’s all-time AFCON top scorer
What’s at Stake
For Nigeria’s Super Eagles, victory would mean:
- A record ninth bronze medal
- A 17th top-three AFCON finish
- Drawing level with Egypt for most AFCON wins (64)
For Egypt, it is a chance to restore pride after a painful semi-final exit and add another medal to their rich AFCON legacy.
(Credit: CAFOnline)
