Seven-time champions Nigeria and four-time winners Egypt will renew their rivalry on Sunday in the third-place match of the 2024/25 Africa U20 Cup of Nations, taking place at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo.
Both sides, traditionally considered African heavyweights at this level, saw their title hopes dashed in the semi-finals—Nigeria falling to South Africa's Amajita and Egypt narrowly losing to Morocco. Now, they must contest the “losers' final” for a shot at bronze in what promises to be a high-stakes consolation clash.
Bronze Medal History
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This will mark Nigeria's fifth appearance in a third-place match. They have previously won bronze in:
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1995 (vs. Mali, 1–0 in Lagos)
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2009 (vs. South Africa, 2–1 in Rwanda)
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2013 (vs. Mali, 2–1 in Algeria)
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Egypt has also won the bronze medal three times:
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1993 (vs. Ethiopia, 3–0 in Mauritius)
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2001 (vs. Ethiopia, 2–0 in Ethiopia)
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2011 (vs. Mali, in South Africa)
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Historic Rivalry
The Flying Eagles defeated Egypt in the 2005 final in Cotonou (2–0) thanks to a brace from the late Isaac Promise. Their most recent meeting came in the group stage of the 2023 edition, where Solomon Agbalaka's header sealed a 1–0 victory for Nigeria.
Tournament Records
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Nigeria: Champions in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2015.
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Egypt: Champions in 1981, 1991, 2003, and 2013.
Team News – Nigeria
Head coach Aliyu Zubairu is expected to shuffle the squad following the semi-final disappointment. There are injury concerns over goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, who will undergo a late fitness test.
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Defenders: Captain Daniel Bameyi, Odinaka Okoro, Adamu Maigari, Emmanuel Chukwu likely to start.
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Midfielders: Israel Ayuma (impressive form), with options including Sulyman Alabi, Simon Cletus, Divine Oliseh, and Auwal Ibrahim.
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Attackers: Clinton Jephta, Kparobo Arierhi, Tahir Maigana, Bidemi Amole, Precious Benjamin, and Mendos Rickson are all available for selection.
Looking Ahead
Sunday’s fixture not only determines who finishes on the podium but also provides a chance for both teams to end their campaign on a high and give younger players a platform to shine on the continental stage.
Kick-off is scheduled for Sunday at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium, with both sides eyeing their fourth bronze medal in the history of the competition.