Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, have secured the bronze medal at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations after a dramatic 4-1 penalty shootout win over hosts Egypt.
The third-place match, played on Sunday, ended 1-1 after normal and extra time before the game was decided by penalties.
Egypt took the lead just three minutes into the game through Osama Omar, putting early pressure on Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s boys.
But Nigeria responded strongly in the second half, with Bidemi Amole scoring the equaliser. The goal came after a smart pass from Divine Oliseh found Amole in space to calmly finish.
Despite several late chances, including two near-misses by Egypt’s Mohamed El Sayed and Mohamed Haitham, the game remained level and went to penalties.
The Flying Eagles were perfect from the spot, with Emmanuel Chukwu, Ayuma, Kparobo Arierhi, and Tahir Maigana all scoring.
Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt was the star of the shootout, saving two Egyptian penalties from Mohamed Atef and Ahmed Kabaka.
“We kept our focus and believed till the end,” Harcourt said after the game. “I’m proud of the team for fighting hard and giving Nigerians something to celebrate.”
This win gives Nigeria their fifth U-20 AFCON bronze medal and their 14th top-three finish in the tournament’s history. The Flying Eagles remain the most successful team in the competition, with eight titles.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu praised the team’s spirit after the hard-fought victory: “The boys showed great character after the early goal. It wasn’t easy, but they gave everything. I’m proud of their performance.”
The Flying Eagles had missed out on the final but ended the tournament on a high, giving fans hope for the future of Nigerian football.
