Nigeria defeated tournament hosts Egypt 4-1 in a penalty shootout on Sunday to secure third place at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025.
Nigeria maintained composure in the shootout to win their fifth bronze medal in U-20 AFCON history after the third-place playoff at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.
After missing out on the final, the two teams were hoping to end the competition on a positive note.
Read Also:AFCON U-20: Harcourt,Okoro Out Of Third Place Tie Against Egypt
Early in the third minute, Osama Omar gave Egypt the lead, but Bidemi Amole of Nigeria quickly equalised after the restart.
Penalties were necessary because there was no extra time in the third-place game, and Egypt missed two of the Flying Eagles’ four available spot-kicks while they all converted.
Three minutes into the match, Egypt silenced the Nigerian bench, setting off a fantastic start. Following the commotion in the Nigerian box caused by Mahmoud Labib’s cut-back, Osama Omar delivered a clinical finish from close range.
Nigeria steadily settled, controlling possession and creating many opportunities despite giving up early.
Abdel Monem Tamer, the Egyptian custodian, was put to the test by Clinton Jephta and Precious Benjamin, but Israel Ayuma’s long-range attempts were unsuccessful.
Nigeria’s pressure payed off two minutes into the second half.
Divine Oliseh’s accurate through pass found Amole, who maintained his cool to slide in the equaliser.
With Kparobo Arierhi and substitute Tahir Maigana boosting their attack, the Flying Eagles pressed for a victory.
However, in a wild finish, Egypt came very close to winning in stoppage time when Mohamed El Sayed hit the bar and Mohamed Haitham hit the post.
After ninety minutes, with the score tied at one, penalties were called.
Nigeria was perfect right away, scoring through Emmanuel Chukwu, Ayuma, Arierhi, and Maigana on all four tries.
Once again displaying maturity beyond his years, 15-year-old Nigerian custodian Ebenezer Harcourt rescued the efforts of Egypt’s Mohamed Atef and Ahmed Kabaka.
Nigeria won its fifth bronze medal and finished in the top three for the fourteenth time in U-20 AFCON history.
It also continued its outstanding record against host nations, beating Egypt for the second straight event.
Egypt, meanwhile, gave up for the first time at this point and was unable to maintain their undefeated record in third-place games.