Super Eagles beat Egypt 4-2 on penalties to win AFCON 2025 bronze

Nigeria's Super Eagles claimed bronze at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, defeating Egypt 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 stalemate in regulation time. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged as hero, saving spot-kicks from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush to secure Nigeria's ninth AFCON bronze medal in history. The match went straight to penalties after 120 minutes of goalless football at the third-place playoff.

Nwabali expressed pride in the team's resilience after their semi-final heartbreak against Morocco. "Today, the outcome was determined by penalty kicks. The players showed great character and strong discipline," said the goalkeeper, who was named Man of the Match. The victory provides consolation for Nigeria after missing out on the final, marking their third consecutive AFCON medal following 2019 silver and 2023 silver.

With this result, Nigeria maintains its record as one of Africa's most consistent AFCON performers. The Super Eagles' next assignment will be World Cup qualifiers, where this bronze medal campaign builds momentum. Will this AFCON success translate into better form for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, or does it mask deeper tactical issues that need addressing before the global tournament?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/17/afcon-2025-nwabali-reacts-to-super-eagles-win-over-egypt/