By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria broke their penalty shootout hoodoo to secure third place (and the bronze medals) of the 35^th Africa Cup of Nations, after edging Egypt 4-2 in a dramatic shootout at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca on Saturday.

The victory made it the 9^th bronze medal Nigeria is winning at the AFCON

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 2^nd minute, and in the 27^th 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 36^th 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.  

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The Pharaohs of Egypt edged the Super Eagles 2-1 in an international friendly played at the Cairo Stadium on Tuesday, in what amounted to the two teams’ final preparatory game ahead of the commencement of the 35^th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco on Sunday.

Nigeria started with an unusual 3-5-2 formation, for the first time under Coach Eric Chelle, but they maintained balance and dominated possession in the first quarter-hour, before the hosts clawed their way into the game with sharp counterattacks which paid off midway into the first half when they took the lead.

Three-time AFCON winners Nigeria kept their shape despite the setback and threatened the Pharaohs’ rearguard with a combination of long balls and quick movements through the middle. The Eagles were dangerous from dead-ball situations and in added time, defender Zaidu Sanusi swung one into the box that was guided into the net by Chidozie Awaziem for the equalizer.

In the second half, the Eagles reverted to 4-4-2 formation with the introduction of Amas Obasogie in goal, as well as Ademola Lookman, Cyril Dessers, Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi and Tochukwu Nnadi. Possession appeared largely balanced in the half but the Pharaohs struck from what looked like offside positioning. Nigeria protested but the referee stuck to his gun.

The hosts then resorted to defending deep into their own half to thwart every onslaught from the Eagles. Coach Eric Chelle was shown a yellow card after remonstrating one of the referee’s poor decisions, including a handball incident in the Egyptian box that was waved away.

The Super Eagles will fly to Fés on Thursday aboard a chartered flight for their Group C encounters against Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda (in that order), while the Pharaohs head to Agadir for Group B games against South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.    

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