Bronze Medal Showdown Sparks Travel Tug-Of-War at AFCON 2025
16 January 2026
Bronze Medal Controversy Sparks Travel Tug
Egypt and Nigeria have rejected CAF's plan to award the bronze medals in Rabat after the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 semi-finals, with the final set to feature Morocco vs. Senegal, according to Moroccan press. CAF insists the medals will be handed in Rabat, while the two nations disagree.
Casablanca to Host the Third-Place Showdown
The match for third place between Egypt and Nigeria is scheduled for Saturday at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, as teams dispute the medal ceremony and travel logistics tied to players' commitments with European clubs.
Both federations oppose delaying the medal handover and the travel required for the winning team to attend the final in Rabat, urging medals to be presented immediately after the next day's game.
Negotiations continue between CAF's organizing committee and the two federations, with travel plans already affected by players’ official duties in European leagues.
Egypt had lost 1-0 to Senegal in the semi-finals, while Nigeria fell to hosts Morocco on penalties after a goalless draw.
As talks proceed, CAF aims to keep the medal ceremony on track, balancing logistics with player availability ahead of the final.
Punchline: If football diplomacy came with a referee, CAF would be sending its whistle to extra time just to keep things interesting.
Punchline: The bronze medal might be the hottest ticket in town—everyone wants it, and nobody wants to take the stairs to the podium.
