The AFCON 2025 tournament culminates for Nigeria and Egypt in a highly anticipated third-place playoff, scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca. Both African heavyweights enter this bronze medal battle after experiencing heart-wrenching semi-final exits. Nigeria's Super Eagles were defeated by host nation Morocco in a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout, while Egypt fell narrowly to Senegal with a 1-0 loss.

Egypt's head coach, Hossam Hassan, has openly acknowledged the formidable strength of his upcoming opponent, Nigeria, emphasizing that the Super Eagles were mere moments away from reaching the AFCON final. Hassan praised Nigeria's overall tournament performance, stating, "We'll be facing a formidable opponent in Nigeria. They are a great squad that made it to the semifinals, the last four. They could have made it to the final, but things happened otherwise. We are satisfied with our journey and are going to put up a good fight tomorrow. Hopefully, we will win this bronze medal." He also recalled a pre-tournament friendly where Egypt secured a 2-1 victory, though noting Nigeria did not field a full-strength team then.

On the Nigerian side, despite the profound disappointment of missing the final, the team remains highly motivated. Defender Calvin Bassey reaffirmed the Super Eagles' determination to conclude their AFCON campaign positively by securing the bronze medal. Reacting to the semi-final loss, Bassey stated, "We thank God in all situations. A gutting way to end the tournament. The support & togetherness we’ve felt has been special. Sorry we couldn’t take it all the way, we fought and gave it all. We’ll build on this. Not finished yet though, we still have something to push for." However, Nigeria's coach Eric Chelle faces selection challenges, as Bassey himself is suspended for the playoff, and Victor Osimhen remains an injury doubt.

Fellow forward Ademola Lookman shared the mental and physical strain of the defeat to Morocco, acknowledging the difficulty of losing on penalties after 120 minutes of play against a strong opponent. Initially, Lookman admitted the team had not yet focused on Egypt due to the immediate disappointment.

Former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo also weighed in, passionately urging Nigeria to defeat Egypt to end their campaign on a high note and provide some redemption for the fans. "This team has a chance to fight for bronze," Ighalo stated, emphasizing the importance of securing the medal, especially after missing out on World Cup qualification and the AFCON final. He warned that Egypt would also be eager to redeem themselves. Ogenyi Onazi, an AFCON 2013 winner, echoed this sentiment, stressing that returning home without the bronze medal would lead to "chaos" and that the team has "no other choice" but to win.

The match officiating will be handled by Moroccan referee Jalal Jiyed, with Algerian official Lahlu Benbraham overseeing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. The encounter is scheduled to take place in Rabat, with reports also mentioning the Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca as a venue for the playoff.

Historically, this match holds significant importance for Nigeria. The Super Eagles boast an impressive record in AFCON third-place matches, having won all seven they have previously contested. A victory against Egypt would not only extend Nigeria’s overall medal count, which currently stands at 16 (the most in AFCON history), but also solidify their position as the nation with the most AFCON bronze medals, bringing their total to eight, further distancing them from Ivory Coast (four). Egypt, with 13 medals including an unmatched seven gold titles, will also be vying for a podium finish to salvage pride. This encounter promises to be more than just a consolation fixture; it is an opportunity for Nigeria to reinforce its dominance in AFCON history and add another chapter to its rivalry with Egypt.