Osimhen and Lookman have been benched as the Super Eagles battle Egypt for bronze at the AFCON 2025.
Glamtush reports that the Super Eagles of Nigeria face off against Egypt’s Pharaohs today in the third-place playoff of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, battling for bronze at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca after both sides suffered heartbreaking semi-final exits.
Nigeria, chasing a record ninth AFCON bronze medal and boasting a perfect 8-0 record in previous third-place matches, named a rotated lineup with star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, surprisingly starting on the bench.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali retains his spot, shielded by a backline of Bright Osayi-Samuel, Igoh Ogbu (stepping in for the suspended Calvin Bassey), Semi Ajayi, and Bruno Onyemaechi.
Midfield duties fall to Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika, with Moses Simon (captaining the side) and Samuel Chukwueze providing width on the flanks.
Starting XI:
Nwabali (23); Osayi (2), M. Oho (5), Ajayi (6), Bruno (13); D. Bashiru (10), Onyedika (18); Chukwueze (11), Simon (15); Onuachu (19), Akor (22).
Substitutes:
Uzoho, Zaidu, Lookman, Onyeka, Osimhen, Usman, Iwobi, Amas, Akinsamiro, Alebiosu, Awaziem, Ejuke, Fago, Nnadi.
The Super Eagles topped Group C with a perfect record, defeating Tanzania 2-1, Tunisia 3-2, and Uganda 3-1 (8 goals scored, 4 conceded).
They stormed through the knockouts with a 4-0 rout of Mozambique in the Round of 16 and a 2-0 win over Algeria in the quarter-finals.
Their semi-final against hosts Morocco ended 0-0 after 120 minutes, but they fell 4-2 on penalties despite heroic saves from Nwabali, with Yassine Bounou denying Bruno Onyemaechi crucially.
Egypt, the record seven-time champions, topped Group B with wins over Zimbabwe (2-1) and South Africa (1-0), plus a 0-0 draw with Angola (3 goals scored, 1 conceded). They advanced past Benin 3-1 (after extra time) in the Round of 16 and stunned defending champions Ivory Coast 3-2 in the quarters.
Their semi-final ended in a narrow 1-0 loss to Senegal, courtesy of Sadio Mané’s decisive strike—the Pharaohs’ first semi-final defeat in over two decades.
This marks Egypt’s seventh third-place playoff appearance (with three prior bronzes), while Nigeria aims to extend its unbreakable streak in the fixture.
