After painful semi-final exits at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt and Nigeria return to action on Saturday in the third-place playoff in Casablanca.
Egypt were beaten 1–0 by Senegal in the first semi-final, while Nigeria lost on penalties to tournament hosts Morocco after a tense goalless draw in Rabat.
Match Preview
Egypt came into AFCON 2025 targeting a record-extending eighth title, which would have been their first since 2010. Despite some uneven performances, Hossam Hassan’s side showed resilience, beating Benin 3–1 after extra time in the last 16 and edging Ivory Coast 3–2 in the quarter-finals in what many consider their best display of the tournament.
However, they fell short in the semi-finals against Senegal. In a game that looked destined for extra time, Sadio Mané struck in the 78th minute with a powerful effort that Mohamed El Shenawy could not keep out. Egypt failed to find a response, ending their hopes of lifting the trophy.
That result crushed both the team’s and Mohamed Salah’s title dreams, and they must now refocus quickly if they are to finish the tournament with a bronze medal.
Nigeria, meanwhile, also arrived with strong title ambitions but were eliminated by Morocco in dramatic fashion. Their semi-final defeat was the first time they failed to score at AFCON 2025, a sudden loss of attacking sharpness at the worst possible moment.
The Super Eagles pushed Morocco all the way to penalties, but missed opportunities in the shootout proved costly. After Stanley Nwabali saved Hamza Igamane’s kick, Nigeria had the chance to take control, but Samuel Chukwueze missed. Another miss by Bruno Onyemaechi then allowed Youssef En-Nesyri to score the decisive penalty for Morocco.
Historically, Nigeria have dominated third-place playoff encounters, winning all eight of their previous matches of this type. They will be determined to make it nine in a row, even as they try to shake off the emotional weight of their semi-final heartbreak.
What to Expect
Both teams are dealing with disappointment, so mentality will matter as much as tactics. Egypt will look to finish strongly after missing out on the final, while Nigeria will aim to restore pride and maintain their perfect record in third-place matches.
It may not be the final they wanted, but there is still something to play ford and both sides will be eager to end AFCON 2025 on a positive note.
