Nigeria broke their penalty shootout hoodoo to secure third place (and the bronze medals) of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations, after edging Egypt 4-2 in a dramatic shootout at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca on Saturday.

Going into the encounter, Nigeria had never lost a third-place match at the Africa Cup of Nations, and incidentally won their first when they defeated Egypt 3-2 in Addis Ababa 50 years ago. Victory took them to a record-extending nine AFCON bronze titles, with Egypt at six.

As has been the tradition in most third-place encounters, both teams fielded understrength squads following the disappointment of semi-final losses. Aside that, Egypt were without the suspended Marwan Attia and Salah Mohsen, while Nigeria’s energetic centre-back Calvin Bassey was also ruled out.

Coach Eric Chelle opted to leave out captain Wilfred Ndidi (recovering from injury), and assistant captain Victor Osimhen, while Alex Iwobi started from the bench.

In the circumstances, Simon Moses led well and gave the Egyptian defenders some horrendous moments. Mahmoud Hassan’s cross was well-read by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali in the 2nd minute, and in the 27th minute, the Pharaohs came close through Liverpool of England ace Mohamed Salah.

Nigeria, through Moses and Samuel Chukwueze, asked several questions of the Egyptian defence in the first half. Akor Adams thought he had put Nigeria ahead in the 36th minute with a smart header from Chukwueze’s cross, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Substitute Ademola Lookman also had a goal chalked off two minutes into the second half, but Nigeria were undaunted and continued to pile pressure on the seven-time champions.

Midfielder Raphael Onyedika and Moses had long-range shots saved early in the second period. Salah tried hard to galvanize the Pharaohs into making incursions into the Nigeria vital area in the second period, but the defenceline of Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Igoh Ogbu and Bruno Onyemaechi held firm.

In the ensuing penalty shootout, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged the hero, saving Egypt’s first two kicks by Salah and Omar Marmoush, to earn him the Man-of-the-Match award.

Though Fisayo Dele-Bashiru failed to convert on the Nigeria side, Adams, Simon, Iwobi and Ademola Lookman all struck past goalkeeper Moustapha Shoubir to give Nigeria victory.

The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed tremendous gratitude to the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and the Federal Government for the fulfilment of pledges of houses, national honours and plots of lands made to players and officials of the Super Eagles for their runner-up achievement at the 2023 AFCON.

At the presentation of the title documents for the houses, certificates of national honours and confirmation of plots of land were Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko; NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau; a representative from the Presidency, Mrs Nathan-Mash.

Others present included the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Abdul Ningi; Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Hon. Kabiru Amadu; NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi; Malam Saleh Ahmadu, and officials of the Nigeria Embassy in Morocco.

President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, credited the hefty motivation from the delivery of the promises for the team’s 2-1 victory over Tanzania in their first match of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco on Tuesday.

“We cannot thank His Excellency, Mr. President enough for fulfilment of the promises of national honours and houses for the players and officials. We also thank the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, the Director General of the NSC, as well as members of the Federal Executive Council for their efforts in this regard.

“The presentation of the title documents and certificates was a positive development that has lifted the spirit of players and officials and we expect even better performances in subsequent matches. The team has picked the first three points, which is important, but we must equally be at our best against Tunisia so that we can pick the Round of 16 ticket before the last round of matches in the group.”

Goals by defender Semi Ajayi (who rose highest in the box to powerfully head past Zuberi Masudi) and Ademola Lookman, either side of a strike by Charles M’Mbombwa, earned the Super Eagles all the points at the Complexe Sportif de Fès on Tuesday.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau has applauded the contributions of former Super Eagles’ captain Ahmed Musa to the Nigerian cause, after the talismanic forward officially retired from international football.

“Ahmed Musa was a rock for Nigeria, both on the pitch and in the dressing room. He was a charismatic leader and an amazing patriot who gave his all at all times whenever he was called upon.

“The Nigeria Football Federation joins other individuals and entities within Nigeria and globally to celebrate a man whose simplicity and humility, aside from his commitment and zeal to win for Nigeria, remain virtues that should be embraced by upcoming and even established players of our time.”

Musa, Nigeria’s record FIFA World Cup goalscorer with four across two tournaments in Brazil (2014) and Russia (2018) has formally hung his international boots months after becoming the General Manager of top Nigeria Premier Football League side, Kano Pillars.

A member of the 2013 AFCON-winning Super Eagles, Musa also won bronze (2019) and silver medals (2023) in Africa’s flagship competition, and played for Nigeria at U20, U23 and senior levels, and is Nigeria’s record senior caps’ holder with 111.