AFCON 2025: Super Eagles beat Egypt to claim bronze, but what’s next for Nigerian football?

by Devesh Jaganath

image AFCON 2025: Super Eagles beat Egypt to claim bronze, but what’s next for Nigerian football?
After a month of grinding group games and fierce knockout contests, Nigeria had to settle for third place at the Africa Cup of Nations after beating Egypt on penalties on Saturday. The result at least meant that the Super Eagles returned from the tournament with something to show for their effort, but questions linger around the future of the national team.

Nigeria complete unbeaten campaign to finish third at AFCON 2025

The Nigerian football team arrived at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations under serious pressure to deliver silverware. They did not manage to clinch the ultimate prize in African football, but they did return with the bronze medal and with their pride intact.

The Super Eagles confirmed our football predictions by beating Egypt 4-2 on penalties at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on Saturday and ended the tournament with an unbeaten record, including five wins and two draws in regulation time. 

After finishing as one of only two teams to win all three group stage-games, Eric Chelle’s side shortened significantly in the betting odds to win the title, and looked like the team to beat after taking their goal tally to a tournament-high 14 after ousting Algeria 2-0 in the quarter-final. 

Unfortunately, their hopes of a fourth continental crown came to a shuddering halt when they were held to a goalless draw by Morocco in the semis and lost the match 4-2 on penalties, owing to the heroics of the Atlas Lions’ shot-stopper Yassine Bounou. 

After defeating the Pharaohs on penalties in the third-place playoff, fans of the Super Eagles expressed a mixture of pride and disappointment, with some commending the team’s efforts, while others saw the bronze as another major disappointment. 

Over the past couple of years, Nigeria have endured major disappointments, having finished second and third at the last two AFCON tournaments, either side of failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America later this year. 

While a silver and bronze medal in Africa’s premier cup competition would be an excellent outcome for most nations across the continent, for the Super Eagles, it is below expectations, given the wealth of talent within their ranks, such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and a host of players from some of the best clubs globally.

With the AFCON now complete and the World Cup not on the agenda, the Super Eagles have time to reassess and analyse their strengths and weaknesses before commencing qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. 

Osimhen, Ndidi skip medal presentation to return to Europe

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While the Nigerian team remained in Morocco for the medal presentation following the final between Senegal and the Atlas Lions in Rabat, four Super Eagles missed the ceremony as they were granted permission to head back to their respective clubs. 

Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, Paul Onuachu and Chidozie Awaziem all boarded a private jet in Casablanca shortly after the third-placed playoff and headed for Nigeria before returning to their clubs amid a demanding schedule in Europe. 

Osimhen was omitted from the bronze-medal match after sustaining an ankle injury in the semi-final against Morocco, and he was not risked against Egypt ahead of Galatasaray’s Champions League Matchday 7 clash against Atletico Madrid in midweek.

Cimbom are in 18th place in the UCL League Phase standings with nine points after six games. One more victory should be enough to secure their spot in the Knockout playoffs, but anything can still happen, with the Lions having to face Manchester City after Atleti on the final matchday.