CASABLANCA, Morocco — Nigeria defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalties following a 0-0 draw in Casablanca on Saturday to secure third place at the Africa Cup of Nations, with substitute Ademola Lookman scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout.
Both Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush missed Egypt’s opening spot kicks, while Akor Adams, Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi all converted for the Super Eagles, before Lookman stepped up to secure the bronze medal.
It’s Nigeria’s record-extending ninth third-placed finish at the Nations Cup, with the West African giants banishing their shootout failure against hosts Morocco on Wednesday to prevail here and end a promising AFCON campaign on a high.
They thought they’d taken the lead in the 36th minute when Adams headed beyond Mostafa Shobeir after the keeper parried into Samuel Chukwueze‘s path and the wideman crossed back for the Sevilla striker to head home via a deflection off Paul Onuachu.
However, the towering striker was deemed to have elbowed Hamdy Fathy as Adams leapt for the ball, and after an extended VAR check, the goal was ruled out, although replays appeared to indicate the striker was completely oblivious to the supposed contact.
Each side showed more attacking intent and desire to impose themselves than they had done in limp semifinal exits.
Stanley Nwabali was called into action inside the opening exchanges to claim the ball after Trézéguet sought to pick out Salah early, with Egypt showing more ambition early on than they had done in the entirety of their poor loss against Senegal on Wednesday.
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Their pressing was also more coherent and intense than it had been against the Teranga Lions, with Nigeria looking harried as a backline shorn of suspended Calvin Bassey struggled to cope with the Pharaohs’ press.
However, Nigeria steadily found their way into the match, with Adams having an effort deflected inside the first quarter of an hour, before Nwabali again had to be sharp to come off his line and clear after Salah turned provider to play in Trezeguet.
Nigeria began to settle, buoyed perhaps by the anti-Egypt Morocco fans in attendance in Casablanca, who increasingly encouraged the Super Eagles while whistling spells of Pharaohs possession.
Lookman, a half-time entrant for Onuachu, required only a few minutes to get the ball in the net after the break, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside, while Shobeir had to be on hand moments later to deny Raphael Onyedika and Simon efforts from range.
Next it was Adams who required the Al Ahly keeper to come off his line to deny a goal, as Nigeria imposed themselves and Egypt increasingly found themselves limited to counterattacking opportunities.
In response to Lookman’s growing influence, Egypt turned to Marmoush — arguably their most impressive player at this Nations Cup — and his first contribution was to take Bright Osayi-Samuel out of the contest, with the rightback appearing to sustain a hamstring complaint as he sought to keep pace with the Manchester City winger.
As penalties loomed, both teams had penalty shouts waved away, with Adams brought down in the Egypt box before, up the other end, Semi Ajayi looked like he had clumsily made contact with Marmoush, only for the referee to dismiss Egyptian protests.
Late chances fell to each side, with Lookman failing to find a teammate after substitute Alex Iwobi had prised open the Egypt defence, before Igoh Ogbhu hauled down Ramy Rabia as Egypt sought to break.
So to penalties, where Fisayo Dele Bashiru’s opening spotkick was saved by Shobeir, as Nigeria began staring at another failure from the spot.
However, Adams’ calm conversation — sandwiched between Nwabali saves from both Salah’s poor penalty and Marmoush, who was denied by the goalkeeper’s outstretched legs — gave Nigeria the advantage.
Simon, Ramia, Iwobi and Mahmoud Saber all scored their penalties before Lookman stepped up to win it, with Shobeir unable to deny the former African Footballer of the Year and prolong the shootout.
