Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will battle Egypt for third place at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations today, Sunday, at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo. Kick-off is at 6:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. GMT).
This match will be the sixth meeting between the two sides in the tournament’s history, with Nigeria winning three of the previous five encounters. Egypt, who are hosting this year’s edition, last defeated Nigeria in the 2013 semi-final.
The third-place clash is crucial for both teams as they look to end the competition on a high after missing out on the final. Nigeria lost 1-0 to South Africa in the semi-final, while Egypt was beaten by Morocco.
The Flying Eagles are appearing in their sixth third-place match, having won four of the previous five – including a dominant 4-0 win over Tunisia in 2023. This is also Nigeria’s third consecutive bronze medal game.
Despite a low goal tally—just three in five matches—Nigeria boast one of the strongest defences in the tournament, conceding only twice and keeping three clean sheets.
The match also continues a unique record for Nigeria, as they face a host nation for the fourth consecutive tournament. Historically, they have performed well in such games, winning six of their last eight meetings with host countries.
On their part, Egypt are playing their fourth third-place match and have never lost at this stage. The Young Pharaohs have won all previous bronze medal games without conceding a goal, scoring six times in total.
However, this year’s side has shown defensive weaknesses, conceding seven goals—the most among the semi-finalists—despite standout performances from goalkeeper Abdel Monem Tamer.
A win for Nigeria would mark their 14th top-three finish at the U-20 AFCON, adding to their record of seven titles, two runner-up medals, and four previous third-place finishes.
As the two African giants clash in Cairo, fans will be hoping for an exciting match and a positive finish to their tournament journey.
