Nwabali the hero as Nigeria wins 9th AFCON bronze

Nwabali the hero

... As Nigeria wins 9th AFCON bronze

. Dedicates MOTM award to Nigerians, teammates

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was the hero for Nigeria yesterday in the third place match against the Mohamed Salah led Pharaohs of Egypt.

The goalkeeper Chippa United of South Africa saved two penalty kicks to give the Super Eagles a 4-2 victory after regulation time ended 0-0.

With the victory, the 'penalty curse' is off as Super Eagles win record-extending 9th AFCON bronze.

Ademola Lookman was another hero for Nigeria as he scored the winning penalty kick.

Nwabali saved two of spot kicks by Egypt’s top stars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmush, while Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who had scored his own penalty kick in the semifinal against Morocco, failed to convert this time against the Egyptians.

Jerome Akor, stand-in captain Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi and Lookman were successful from the spot for Nigeria to finish again on the podium.

Both Nigeria and Egypt cancel themselves in this classification game in Casablanca watched by an impressive crowd of over 38,000 spectators.

Late in the first half, the Super Eagles thought they had broken the deadlock when Akor headed home from inside the box.

However, VAR ruled out the effort after TV replays showed Paul Onuachu fouled an Egyptian defender in the build-up to the goal.

Early in the second half, Nigeria celebrated an effort by substitute Ademola Lookman, but VAR showed Akor to be offside before the Atalanta forward headed home.

Coach Eric Chelle rung the changes with Igoh Ogbu in for the suspended Calvin Bassey, while Samuel Chukwueze, Onuachu, Dele-Bashiru and Moses Simon started leaving the likes of Victor Osimhen, Lookman and Iwobi were dropped to the bench.

Egypt enjoyed more of the ball possession, but Nigeria looked more dangerous when they surged forward.

But no goals after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout, which done Nigeria in against Morocco in the semifinal as well as in a 2026 World Cup Playoffs tie against DR Congo in November, had to decide the third best team of this competition in Morocco.

Meanwhile, Nwabali has dedicated the Man of the Match award to Nigerians and his teammates.

According to him, the bronze medal is a consolation as their ultimate goal was to win the tournament.

" This is not what we want in this tournament but it's a consolation. The players fought hard to achieve the objective but at the end the bronze medal is like a consolation," he said.