Nigeria beat Egypt on penalties to clinch third place at 2025 AFCON

Played in front of a healthy crowd, the third-place play-off largely followed the familiar pattern of such occasions, with both sides appearing low on motivation and struggling to generate sustained attacking quality.

The first half was particularly short on entertainment, with neither team able to impose any real rhythm or urgency.

Nigeria came closest to breaking the deadlock before the interval through a dramatic VAR intervention. Samuel Chukwueze's header was saved by Oufa Shobeir, before the winger chipped the rebound back into the danger area for Akor Adams to head home from close range.

However, the goal was ruled out after review, with Paul Onuachu judged to have fouled Hamdy Fathy and prevented him from making a defensive challenge. The half ended goalless.

Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle made a decisive change at the break, replacing Onuachu with Ademola Lookman. The substitution appeared inspired when Lookman found the net with his first touch early in the second half, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.

The remainder of the contest followed a similar low-quality pattern, with just two shots on target in the entire match, both from Nigeria.

Egypt, who had arrived unbeaten in six matches before losing 1-0 to Senegal in the semi-finals, delivered an underwhelming display that lacked their usual attacking flair.

The penalty shoot-out proved far more eventful. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Mohamed Salah both saw early efforts saved, before Akor Adams and Moses Simon gave Nigeria control.

Stanley Nwabali's save from Omar Marmoush proved pivotal, and after goals from Ramy Rabia, Alex Iwobi and Mahmoud Sabar, Lookman stepped up to score the decisive penalty.