Nwabali Hailed as Nigeria Clinches AFCON Bronze with Penalty Heroics

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was named man of the match after his two crucial penalty saves secured a third-place finish for Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.

The Super Eagles defeated Egypt 4-2 in a shootout following a goalless draw in Casablanca. Nwabali denied efforts from Egyptian captain Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, preserving Nigeria’s perfect record in AFCON third-place playoffs—now nine wins from nine attempts.

The Chippa United shot-stopper dedicated the award to Nigerian supporters and his teammates, acknowledging the team’s collective effort despite falling short of the final.

“I want to say big thanks to our nation and the fans. I dedicate this award to them and to my teammates these guys deserve the best,” Nwabali said after the match.

The 29-year-old kept four clean sheets in the tournament, conceding only four goals across seven matches as Nigeria finished with a national record of 14 goals in a single AFCON edition.

Though disappointed not to have contested for the title, Nwabali reflected positively on the team’s resolve. “This isn’t the position we wanted, but we’ll take it. It’s a team game, and I’m happy tonight,” he stated.

The victory extends Nigeria’s dominance in bronze-medal matches and provides a strong finish to their 2025 AFCON campaign.