By Kunle Solaja, Marrakech

Nigeria and Egypt’s third-place showdown in Casablanca will be the 32nd AFCON bronze-medal play-off, a fixture that has historically delivered goals, drama and, on occasion, penalty shoot-outs.

Across the previous 31 third-place matches, 87 goals have been scored at an average of 2.85 per game, with five editions decided on penalties. Egypt hold the record for the biggest victory in the fixture, having beaten Congo 4–0 in 1974, while the most recent play-off ended goalless before South Africa defeated DR Congo on penalties in 2023.

Saturday’s contest also deepens a long-standing AFCON rivalry between the two sides. The teams have met nine times at the Africa Cup of Nations, with eight of those encounters coming in the group stages. Overall, Nigeria and Egypt have faced each other 20 times, with Nigeria winning eight matches, Egypt six, and six ending in draws.

Their first AFCON meeting came in 1963, a nine-goal thriller won 6–3 by Egypt, while Nigeria gained revenge in later tournaments, including wins in 1976, 1980, 1990 and 2021. Egypt ended a long winless run against Nigeria with a 3–1 group-stage victory in 2010, before Nigeria again edged the Pharaohs 1–0 at the 2021 finals.

Nigeria’s third-place pedigree remains unmatched. The Super Eagles have officially finished third in 1976, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2019, winning all seven matches in which a third-place play-off was contested. Their most recent bronze came in 2019, courtesy of a 1–0 victory over Tunisia.

Statistically, Nigeria arrive with strong defensive credentials, having gone 357 minutes without conceding a goal and keeping three successive clean sheets. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made five saves in the semi-final against Morocco, while defender Calvin Bassey recorded the highest number of completed passes by any player at the tournament.

Egypt, by contrast, struggled for attacking rhythm in their semi-final loss to Senegal, registering just three shots and failing to record a shot on target until stoppage time. However, the Pharaohs remain historically efficient in bronze-medal matches, having scored in four of their five previous play-offs.

Individually, Mohamed Salah will be chasing history of his own. With 11 AFCON goals, the Liverpool forward could draw level with Hassan El-Shazly as Egypt’s all-time leading scorer at the finals.

As Nigeria chase another bronze to extend their continental record and Egypt seek to close the gap, Saturday’s clash promises to be shaped as much by numbers and history as by what unfolds on the pitch in Casablanca.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

As the Nigeria Super Eagles prepare to face Egypt in the third-place match of the Africa Cup of Nations, Goldberg Lager Beer has once again called Nigerian fans together with another edition of its popular Festival of Drums and Light, reinforcing the message that support for the national team goes beyond wins and losses.

Building on the strong turnout recorded during Nigeria’s quarter-final and semi-final fixtures, Goldberg is set to deliver another vibrant match-day experience on Saturday at the Lion Wonder Arena, Egbeda, Lagos. Activities at the venue will begin at 4:00 p.m., giving fans ample time to settle in ahead of kick-off.

The Festival of Drums and Light forms a central part of Goldberg’s Our Beat, Our Gold campaign, which has followed the Super Eagles throughout AFCON 2025 with viewing centres, cultural activations and fan celebrations across Lagos and beyond.

The campaign draws inspiration from the rhythm, passion and sense of togetherness that define how Nigerians experience football.

Saturday’s edition promises a lively mix of football, music and culture. According to the organisers, the Egbeda venue will host live performances by Small Doctor, Shoday, Hardvantage and DJ Neptune, adding colour and energy ahead of the Nigeria versus Egypt encounter.

Fans at the event will also enjoy Goldberg’s signature match-day atmosphere, featuring branded fan zones, music, light entertainment and ice-cold Goldberg Lager Beer available throughout the evening.

Speaking ahead of the event, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager Brands at Nigerian Breweries Plc, Laolu Babalola Kunle, said the focus remains firmly on the fans and the team.

“Our Beat, Our Gold is about how Nigerians show up for football,” he said. “Whether it’s a final, a semi-final or a third-place match, the passion stays the same. The Festival of Drums and Light gives fans a place to come together, enjoy the game and celebrate the Super Eagles.”

Babalola added that the third-place match offers Nigeria another opportunity to finish the tournament on a positive note.

“The Super Eagles have given a good account of themselves at this AFCON,” he noted. “This match against Egypt is another chance to show character, and the fans will be right behind them.”

Also speaking, Senior Brand Manager, Goldberg, Kunle Aroyehun, described the festival as part of the company’s broader commitment to Nigerian football culture.

“Goldberg has a long history with Nigerian football,” Aroyehun said. “Our role

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

By Kunle Solaja, Marrakech

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will be chasing history on Saturday when they face Egypt in the third-place match of the Africa Cup of Nations in Casablanca, with a record-extending ninth bronze medal at stake.

Already the most successful team in AFCON third-place finishes, Nigeria have claimed the bronze medal eight times and now stands on the brink of stretching that record further. Victory over Egypt would reinforce the Super Eagles’ long-standing reputation for consistency at the continent’s flagship tournament.

The Egyptians are gunning for the third position after their previous six achievements

There is a strong historical link between Nigeria and Egypt when it comes to the AFCON bronze medal. While Nigeria lead the chart with eight third-place finishes, Egypt follow closely with six. A win for the Pharaohs on Saturday would see them narrow the gap, moving within one of Nigeria’s record hauls. It was in Egypt that Nigeria last won the bronze medal.

The bronze-medal contest also carries deep historical significance for the Super Eagles. It was against Egypt, exactly 50 years ago, that Nigeria secured their first-ever third-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations, during the 1976 finals in Ethiopia.

Even earlier, Egypt were Nigeria’s opponent in their maiden AFCON match in 1963, marking the beginning of a long and competitive rivalry between the two nations.

Nigeria’s eight third-place finishes came in 1976, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2019—spanning more than four decades of continental football and underlining the team’s sustained presence among Africa’s elite.

Saturday’s encounter, therefore, offers more than consolation silverware. It is a chance for Nigeria to further entrench their dominance in AFCON’s bronze-medal history, while denying Egypt the opportunity to close in on that record.

As both sides seek to end their AFCON campaigns on a positive note, the clash in Casablanca promises to be a meeting shaped as much by history as by the desire to finish on the podium.

Coincidentally, both teams faced each other in their last pre-Afcon clash in Cairo last month.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H