Nigeria and Egypt renew one of the Africa Cup of Nations’ most enduring rivalries on Thursday as they clash in the third place play-off at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
For Nigeria, the stakes are historic: a ninth AFCON bronze medal and a chance to draw level with Egypt on 64 AFCON wins, the most by any nation.
For Egypt, it is an opportunity to claim a fourth third-place finish, adding to previous successes in 1963, 1970 and 1974.
This will be the 10th AFCON meeting between the sides and the 20th overall, underlining a rivalry that has shaped AFCON history for over six decades.
PUNCH Online reports that the Super Eagles beat Algeria 2–0 in the quarter-finals but fell to hosts Morocco in the semi-finals, held 0–0 over 120 minutes before losing 4–2 on penalties
Meanwhile, the Pharaohs survived a thrilling 3–2 battle with Côte d’Ivoire in the quarters, only to be edged out 1–0 by Senegal in a tense semi-final showdown.
Head-to-Head: A Rivalry in Numbers
Overall Meetings
Played: 20
Nigeria: W8 D6 L6 | Goals: 29–24
Egypt: W6 D6 L8 | Goals: 24–29
AFCON Meetings Only
Played: 9
Nigeria: W5 D2 L2 | Goals: 12–13
Egypt: W2 D2 L5 | Goals: 13–12
Nigeria have won two of the last three AFCON-related encounters, including the 1–0 victory at AFCON 2021, but Egypt arrive having won the most recent meeting, a 2–1 friendly victory on 16 December 2025.
AFCON Encounters Through the Years
Their AFCON history began with fireworks.
1963 – Group Stage: Egypt 6–3 Nigeria
Egypt surged into a 5–0 lead in a nine-goal thriller. Mohamed Morsi Hossein and Hassan El-Shazly both scored hat-tricks as Egypt progressed and Nigeria exited.
1976 – Second Group Stage: Nigeria 3–2 Egypt
A dead-rubber match, but Nigeria finished third overall, Egypt fourth.
1980 – Group Stage: Nigeria 1–0 Egypt
Hosts Nigeria secured top spot and went on to win the title.
1984 – Semi-final: Nigeria 2–2 Egypt (Nigeria won on penalties)
Egypt surrendered a two-goal lead, with Nigeria advancing via shoot-out.
1988 – Group Stage: Nigeria 0–0 Egypt
Nigeria topped the group and eliminated Egypt.
1990 – Group Stage: Nigeria 1–0 Egypt
Egypt were eliminated as Nigeria reached the final.
1994 – Group Stage: Nigeria 0–0 Egypt
Both advanced; Nigeria went on to win the tournament.
2010 – Group Stage: Egypt 3–1 Nigeria
Egypt ended a six-match winless AFCON run against Nigeria and defended their title.
2021 – Group Stage: Nigeria 1–0 Egypt
Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winner as both sides progressed.
This will be their second AFCON meeting in Morocco, following the 1988 group-stage draw.
Third Place Play-off: Goals, Drama and History
Saturday’s encounter will be the 32nd AFCON third place play-off.
Goals scored: 87
Average goals per game: 2.85
Both teams scored: 13 of 31 matches
Penalty shoot-outs: 5 (1988, 1998, 2000, 2015, 2023)
Notable moments include:
1998: Burkina Faso 4–4 DR Congo (DR Congo won on penalties after Burkina Faso led 3–0 and 4–1)
2023: Cameroon 3–3 Burkina Faso (Cameroon won on penalties after trailing 3–0)
Biggest win: Egypt 4–0 Congo (1974)
Only 2015 and 2023 ended 0–0, both decided on penalties.
Nigeria: Kings of the Bronze Match
Nigeria arrive with a flawless third-place record.
Seven third place matches, seven wins
Eight official third-place finishes (including 1976)
No third-place match has ever gone to penalties
Six of seven wins by a single goal
Four wins by a 1–0 scoreline
They were eliminated in the semi-finals by hosts Morocco after a 0–0 draw and penalty shoot-out defeat, ending a run of 12 consecutive AFCON matches with a goal.
Key Nigeria Stats
Goals scored: 14 (their highest ever at an AFCON)
Unbeaten run without conceding: 357 minutes
Clean sheets: 3 in a row
Conceded in all group games, none in knockout rounds
Next goal conceded will be their 100th at AFCON
Top-three finishes: 16 (most ever); a win would make it 17
Individually:
Stanley Nwabali: 5 saves vs Morocco
Calvin Bassey: 115 passes attempted, 102 completed (most at the tournament)
Team fouls committed: 120 (most at the tournament)
Shots on target vs Morocco: 1
Egypt: Experience, Records and a Scoring Chase
Egypt are contesting their sixth third place play-off.
Record: W3 L2
Goals scored: 17 across five matches (3.4 per game)
Never involved in a third-place penalty shoot-out
Their semi-final loss to Senegal (1–0) was significant:
First AFCON semi-final defeat this century
Ended a run of seven straight semi-final wins
Key Egypt Stats
Goals conceded: 5
Clean sheets: 2 (both in group stage)
Knockout clean sheets: 0
Shots vs Senegal: 3 total, 0 on target in 90 minutes
Possession vs Senegal: 36.6%
Attack and creativity:
Omar Marmoush: 6 shots on target (most for Egypt)
Mohamed Salah: 12 chances created (most in squad)
Salah AFCON goals: 11 — could equal Hassan El-Shazly as Egypt’s all-time AFCON top scorer
What’s at Stake
Nigeria: A perfect 8/8 record in third-place matches, a ninth bronze, and joint-most AFCON wins (64)
Egypt: A fourth third-place finish, history for Salah, and redemption after a rare semi-final setback
Two giants. One medal. And another chapter in a rivalry that never lacks drama.