Nigeria’s Super Eagles ended their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign on a high note after defeating Egypt in a dramatic third-place playoff to claim the bronze medal in Morocco, with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali delivering a Man of the Match performance.
After 90 minutes of tense football ended goalless, the encounter was settled by a penalty shootout, where Nwabali produced a series of brilliant saves, including stopping Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush’s penalties, to tilt the contest in Nigeria’s favour. His composure and quick reactions gave the Super Eagles the advantage before they calmly converted their spot kicks to seal the victory.
Speaking after the match, Nwabali reflected on his remarkable performance:
Mohamed Salah is one of the greatest players in Africa, probably in the world. Talking about Omar Marmoush, I do watch them, not like I’m watching their penalty but I do watch them playing in their clubs. But I feel like this is going to be my greatest moment. My target was this penalty shootout, and saving Mohamed Salah’s penalty is a big boost for me. So the only way I can contribute to my nation is to help them because these guys have really tried.
The Chippa United goalkeeper’s heroics capped off an impressive tournament, as he once again proved decisive on the big stage. His display between the posts earned him the Man of the Match award and widespread praise from fans and pundits alike.
The bronze-medal finish provides a positive ending to Nigeria’s AFCON journey after their narrow semi-final defeat, and it reflects the resilience and character within the squad.
With confidence restored and momentum regained, the Super Eagles will now look ahead to upcoming international assignments, encouraged by the strong finish in Morocco and the emergence of key performers like Nwabali.
