* Overall, Nigeria and Egypt have met 20 times with Nigeria winning eight, Egypt six and six ending in draws
* Of their nine AfCON meetings, eight have come in the group stages and the Super Eagles have won two of their most recent AfCON-related meetings
* Prior to Egypt’s latest victory, a friendly in March 2019 and the 2021 AfCON group match, both by 1–0 scorelines
Maravi Express
Nigeria will bid for a 9th Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) bronze medal tomorrow when they take on Egypt, who have won the bronze medal three times previously as they prepare for their 10th meeting for the 3rd place play-off.
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Overall, the sides have met 20 times, with Nigeria winning eight matches, Egypt six, and six ending in draws and of their nine AfCON meetings, eight have come in the group stages.
In 1976 they met in the second group stage, while they have met seven times in standard group play. In 1963 Egypt progressed, while in 1988 and 1990 Nigeria advanced at Egypt’s expense.
Nigeria won their two most recent AfCON-related meetings prior to Egypt’s latest victory, a friendly international in March 2019 in Asaba and the 2021 AFCON group match, both by 1–0 scorelines.
Egypt won the most recent meeting, a friendly on December 16, 2025 in which Mahmoud Saber scored in the 28th minute and Mostafa Mohamed in the 53rd, while Chidozie Awaziem scored in first-half stoppage time.
Nigeria’s 2019 friendly win ended a seven-match winless run against Egypt (D3 L4) and was their first victory over Egypt in 29 years, following their 1990 AfCON success.
Past AfCON meetings
1963 – group stage: Egypt 6-3 Nigeria
Nigeria’s first AfCON meeting with Egypt came in the opening match of the 1963 tournament, a nine-goal thriller won 6-3 by Egypt in which the Pharaohs raced into a 5–0 lead before Nigeria scored their first goal.
Mohamed Morsi Hossein and Hassan Ahmed El-Shazly both scored hat-tricks and Egypt and Egypt progressed to the semi-finals alongside Sudan, while Nigeria were eliminated at the group stage.
1976 – group stage: Nigeria 3-2 Egypt
Nigeria defeated Egypt 3-2 in their final second group-stage match. The result was immaterial, as neither side had a chance of overhauling Guinea or Morocco. Nigeria finished third overall, with Egypt fourth.
1980 – group stage: Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
At the 1980 AfCON, with both teams already through to the semi-finals, hosts Nigeria won 1-0 in their final group game to finish as group winners. Nigeria went on to lift the trophy.
1984 – semifinal: Nigeria 2-2 Egypt
The sides met in the semi-finals, where Egypt surrendered a two-goal lead as the match ended 2-2, with Nigeria advancing on penalties.
1988 – group stage: Nigeria 0-0 Egypt
A goalless draw in their final group game saw Nigeria top the group and eliminate Egypt, progressing to the semifinals.
1990 – group stage: Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
Nigeria bounced back from a 5-1 opening loss to hosts Algeria to defeat Egypt 1–0, eliminating Egypt while Nigeria reached the final and finished runners-up.
1994 – group stage: Nigeria 0-0 Egypt
Another goalless draw in their final group game saw both teams progress to the quarterfinals. Egypt were eliminated at that stage, while Nigeria went on to lift the trophy.
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2010 – group stage: Egypt 3-1 Nigeria
After a 16-year wait, the teams met again at AfCON, with Egypt ending a six-game winless run against Nigeria in a 3-1 come-from-behind victory in their opening group match. Nigeria still progressed to the quarter-finals, while Egypt went on to successfully defend their title.
2021 – group stage: Nigeria 1-0 Egypt
Kelechi Iheanacho scored the only goal in the 30th minute. Both teams progressed from the group, Egypt finishing runners-up while Nigeria exited at the Round of 16.
3rd place play-off history
Nigeria and Egypt will contest the 32nd AfCON third place play-off. Across the previous 31 matches, the third place play-off has produced 87 goals at an average of 2.85 per game.
In 13 of the 31 matches, both teams have scored while five previous play-offs, in 1988, 1998, 2000, 2015 and 2023, were decided by penalty shoot-outs.
The highest-scoring play-off was in 1998, when Burkina Faso and DR Congo drew 4-4 after Burkina Faso had led 3-0 and 4-1, with DR Congo winning on penalties.
Sunday final’s special matchball
The most recent high-scoring play-off ended 3-3 before Cameroon defeated Burkina Faso on penalties, coming back from 3-0 down. Burkina Faso have twice surrendered three-goal leads and lost on penalties, in 1998 and 2021.
At the last edition, South Africa defeated DR Congo on penalties after a 0-0 draw. The biggest victory in a third place play-off was Egypt’s 4–0 win over Congo in 1974.
Only in 2015 and 2023 did the play-off end goalless, with DR Congo defeating Equatorial Guinea on penalties in 2015 and losing to South Africa in 2023.—Reporting by CAFonline; edited by Maravi Express
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