Nigeria's Flying Eagles have clinched the bronze medal at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after defeating hosts Egypt 4-1 on penalties in the third-place playoff match on Sunday.

The match, held at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo, ended in a 1-1 draw after regulation time, with B. O. Amole scoring for Nigeria and O. O. H. Hassan finding the net for the Egyptian side.

In the ensuing penalty shootout, the Flying Eagles displayed remarkable composure, converting four of their spot kicks while Egypt managed to score just once, giving Nigeria a 4-1 victory on penalties.

The bronze medal match followed Nigeria's narrow 1-0 defeat to South Africa in the semi-finals, while Egypt had suffered a similar 1-0 loss to Morocco in the other semi-final encounter.

Prior to the match, Egypt's coach Nabih had expressed determination to secure third position against the Flying Eagles, but Nigeria's resilience proved too strong for the host nation.

The victory represents a consolation prize for Nigeria's U-20 team after their hopes of reaching the final were dashed by South Africa. Coach Zubairu, who had previously accepted blame for the semi-final loss, will likely be pleased with his team's response in securing a podium finish.

Meanwhile, South Africa and Morocco are set to face each other in the tournament final later today to determine the 2025 U-20 AFCON champions.

The third-place finish adds another medal to Nigeria's impressive youth football record on the continental stage, reinforcing the country's status as a powerhouse in African football development.