The Flying Eagles of Nigeria earned a 4-1 penalty shootout victory over hosts Egypt to win the bronze medal at the 2025 U-20 Nations Cup in Cario on Sunday.
The third place match ended 1-1 in regulation time before the tie went straight into penalties at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo.
The Young Pharaohs took the lead in the third minute after Osama Omar finished off on pass from Mahmoud Labib to fire home from close range.
The goal unsettled the Flying Eagles before they found their rhythm by creating numerous chances but they struggled to beat the Egyptian goalkeeper Abdel Monem Tamer, who made two saves in quick succession.
Bidemi Amole broke the deadlock for Nigeria just after the restart with a stunning finish from a sublime pass from Divine Oliseh to make it 1-1.
Both sides failed to find the winner after the regulation time to take the game into penalty shootout.
The Flying Eagles kept their steeze, and composure as Egypt faltered under pressure in front of their fans.
Nigeria scored all their four spot kicks but Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Ebenezer Harcourt, saved two spot kicks from Mohamed Atef, and Ahmed Kabaka to lead the team to their fifth bronze medal in U-20 AFCON history.
Flying Eagles defender, Aminu Maigari, was named the Man of the Match in the encounter following his impressive performance
He is the third Nigerian player to win the award in the competition after Auwal Ibrahim won it against Tunisia, and Daniel Bameyi scooped the award against Morocco.
The Flying Eagles will represent Africa alongside Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile from September 27 to October 19.
