It’s time for the curtain to come down on an enthralling 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for continental giants Egypt and Nigeria, who meet in Morocco with third place at stake on Saturday.
The pair play off for the last spot on the podium in Casablanca.
It’s the warm-up act to Sunday’s final in Rabat, where the host nation’s Atlas Lions will go up against Senegal in a thunderous clash to claim the crown as kings of Africa.
*All kick off times are in Central Africa Time.
3rd Place Final: Egypt vs Nigeria – 18.00
Egypt and Nigeria contest the 3rd place final at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday in Casablanca.
It’s one final opportunity to banish the bad memories of their respective semi-final exits in Morocco, with both heavyweight nations having, up until that point, harboured realistic hopes of claiming another Afcon title.
But it wasn’t to be, with the Super Eagles enduring particular agony when they were edged out on penalties by the Moroccans in front of a partisan Rabat crowd on Wednesday night.
Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi both saw their spot kicks saved following a gruelling 120+ minutes of football that produced few genuine chances.
It sent the Atlas Lions through to a home final where they will tackle Senegal for the Afcon crown.
Egypt’s last four exit also came via fine margains, as Sadio Mane scored the only goal of the game to take the Teranga Lions through at the expense of Mohamed Salah and Co in Tangier.
They had earlier come out on top of a thriller against Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter-finals, winning 3-2 thanks to goals from Omar Marmoush, Rami Rabia and Salah, who seems to have rediscovered his mojo following a controversial spell on the sidelines at English Premier League champions Liverpool.
Benin proved a stubborn obstacle in the Round of 16.
But extra time strikes from Yasser Ibrahim and Salah ensured their side’s huffing and puffing was ultimately worthwhile.
Signs of potential fragility had been evident in the North African side from the pool phase before the turn of the year, though.
Nervy – and indeed controversial – wins over Zimbabwe and South Africa failed to full convince, not to mention the final stalemate with Angola, admittedly featuring a much-changed line up with qualification from Group B already assured.
Nigeria had looked smoother throughout the Cup of Nations, as they sought to go one better than their runners-up finish of two years ago and claim a first Afcon title since 2013.
Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams both struck to seal a convincing 2-0 quarter-final victory over Algeria.
Both had earlier combined on the scoresheet as they demolished minnows Mozambique 4-0 in the Round of 16, with Osimhen adding a personal second and Ademola Lookman netting the opener in Fes.
The signs had been promising throughout the pool phase, too, with a trio of successes against Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda giving the Nigerians one of only two perfect records as they topped Group C.
But both countries fell at the penultimate hurdle, leaving third spot and a last point to prove their final mission in Morocco.
Egypt v Nigeria
| Result prediction | Nigeria to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Nigeria to win |
| Team to Score prediction | Nigeria only |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |