Bronze Battle in Tangier: Egypt and Nigeria Clash for AFCON 2025 Third Place
17 January 2026
Bronze Medal Showdown: Egypt vs Nigeria
Mohammed V Stadium in Tangier hosts a fiery bronze medal match between Egypt and Nigeria as AFCON 2025 nears its grand finale, a tie about pride as much as third place. If you like drama with a sprinkle of humor, this one delivers—with a trophy-shaped shadow hanging over the nerves and a few hopeful fans in the stands appreciating the lighter moments.
Egypt were eliminated in the semi-finals by Senegal, 1-0, at Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, dashing their hopes of a shot at the title. Nigeria, meanwhile, failed to reach the final after a penalty shootout against Morocco, settling 4-2 on spot kicks after a goalless night.
Now both teams want to end the tournament on a positive note: Egypt to restore balance after the heartbreak, and Nigeria to finish the campaign with bronze and a story to tell back home.
Key absences threaten to shape the lineup. Egypt will be without Yasser Ibrahim and Ahmed Fattouh due to injuries. Ibrahim is ruled out with a back issue, while Fattouh has a thigh muscle tear. Mohamed Hamdi is out with a knee/leg issue, and Hossam Abdel Majid misses the game after a second yellow card in the competition. Additionally, Marwan Attia and Salah Mohsen are suspended for two matches by CAF, opening the door for rotations in the defense and attack.
On disciplinary notes, CAF has also suspended Attia and Mohsen for two matches following gestures toward the referee after the semi-final. With these disruptions, coach Hossam Hassan is expected to adjust the starting XI to maximize the chances in a tightly contested bronze match.
Projected starting XI for Egypt against Nigeria includes: Goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir; Defense: Mohamed Hani, Hamdi Fathi, Ram Rabia, Khaled Sobhy; Midfield: Mohanad Lasheen, Imam Ashour, Ahmed Zizou; Attack: Mohamed Salah, Mostafa Mohamed, Mahmoud Hassan (Trezeguet).
The fixture offers both sides a final chance to finish on a high, with a trophy that could spark renewed momentum into the next cycle. Expect a stubborn, disciplined display from Egypt and a Nigeria side seeking to cap their campaign with a positive result and a bronze medal to celebrate in addition to the long flight home.
Punchlines: Bronze is gold in disguise—tonight’s medal might be bronze, but the drama feels like platinum. And if you thought this would be a quiet night, remember: football has more spin than a corner kick, and tonight it’s spinning toward a bronze finish.
