By Aderonke Ojo
Nigeria broke their penalty shootout hoodoo to secure third place (and the bronze medals) of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations, after edging Egypt 4-2 in a dramatic shootout at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca on Saturday.
Going into the encounter, Nigeria had never lost a third-place match at the Africa Cup of Nations, and incidentally won their first when defeating Egypt 3-2 in Addis Ababa 50 years ago. Victory took them to a record-extending nine AFCON bronze titles, with Egypt at six.
As has been the tradition in most third-place encounters, both teams fielded understrength squads following the disappointment of semi-final losses. Aside that, Egypt were without the suspended Marwan Attia and Salah Mohsen, while Nigeria’s energetic centre-back Calvin Bassey was also ruled out.
Coach Eric Chelle opted to leave out captain Wilfred Ndidi (recovering from injury), and assistant captain Victor Osimhen, while Alex Iwobi started from the bench.
In the circumstances, Simon Moses led well and gave the Egyptian defenders some horrendous moments. Mahmoud Hassan’s cross was well-read by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali in the 2nd minute, and in the 27th minute, the Pharaohs came close through Liverpool of England ace Mohamed Salah.
Nigeria, through Moses and Samuel Chukwueze, asked several questions of the Egyptian defence in the first half. Akor Adams thought he had put Nigeria ahead in the 36th minute with a smart header from Chukwueze’s cross, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Substitute Ademola Lookman also had a goal chalked off two minutes into the second half, but Nigeria were undaunted and continued to pile pressure on the seven-time champions.
Midfielder Raphael Onyedika and Moses had long-range shots saved early in the second period. Salah tried hard to galvanize the Pharaohs into making incursions into the Nigeria vital area in the second period, but the defenceline of Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Igoh Ogbu and Bruno Onyemaechi held firm.
In the ensuing penalty shootout, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged the hero, saving Egypt’s first two kicks by Salah and Omar Marmoush. Though Fisayo Dele-Bashiru failed to convert on the Nigeria side, Adams, Simon, Iwobi and Ademola Lookman all struck past goalkeeper Moustapha Shoubir to give Nigeria victory.
Nwabali’s heroics earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.