Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was the hero of the day, saving two penalties as the Super Eagles beat Egypt to win bronze at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The game ended goalless after 90 minutes and headed into penalties. The Chippa United goalkeeper saved Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush’s efforts as the Super Eagles won 2-4.

Victory for the Super Eagles in Casablanca followed the disappointment of losing shoot-outs that cost them chances to compete at the 2026 World Cup and in the 2025 AFCON final.

Nigeria lost on penalties to the Democratic Republic of Congo last November in a play-off for a place in the World Cup intercontinental play-offs.

Then, three days ago, they lost another shoot-out to fail against hosts Morocco in an AFCON semi-final.

Success maintained a perfect Nigerian record in third-place AFCON matches after seven previous play-offs victories.

Before Lookman scored, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru missed the Eagles’ first kick, then Akor Adams, captain Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi scored.

Premier League pair Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush both had kicks saved by Stanley Nwabali before Ramy Rabia and Mahmoud Saber scored.

Egypt made six changes and Nigeria five to the teams that started semi-final losses to Senegal and hosts Morocco, respectively three days ago.

Captain Salah started for the Pharaohs while traditional first choices in goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy and forward Marmoush were among the substitutes.

Attackers Victor Osimhen and Lookman, both former winners of the annual African player of the year award, sat on the bench for Nigeria.

Most Moroccans in a crowd that nearly filled the 45,000-capacity Stade Mohammed V backed Nigeria. They whistled whenever Egypt gained possession and when coach Hossam Hassan was shown on the big screen.

This support for the Super Eagles was attributed to the great rivalry between Morocco and Egypt, both at national team and club levels.

Nigeria initially, then Egypt had spells of dominance in a goalless opening half on a cold, cloudy evening in the Moroccan commercial capital.

Paul Onuachu thought he had broken the deadlock on 36 minutes as he deflected the ball with his head past goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.

However, a VAR review by the Moroccan referee revealed Onuachu had accidentally struck Hamdy Fathy with an elbow. The goal was disallowed and the Nigerian was yellow-carded.

Lookman was introduced by coach Eric Chelle for the second half, replacing Onuachu, and he had the ball in the net in the opening minute of the second period. However, the goal was ruled out for offside.

Nigeria started after the break with a series of attacks. Following a largely uneventful first half, Shobeir — the son of former Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed Shobeir — was forced to make several saves.

Salah seldom threatened and when he did cut in with the ball, the potential danger was quickly averted. Marmoush came on as the play-off passed the hour mark to try and boost a blunt strike force.

But as the match entered the final 10 minutes there was no sign of Osimhen being brought on, suggesting he might not have been fully fit.

In quick succession, Adams, then Marmoush threatened to score, but neither could deliver the finishing touch under pressure from opponents.

Salah then disappointed when offered a scoring opportunity from a free-kick outside the box. He hit the ball straight into the wall and it was swiftly cleared.

Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick has responded to comments from former captain Roy Keane.

Keane suggested this week that Carrick’s wife is “probably doing the team talk” for his first match in charge, in what was a swipe that comes after controversial comments back in 2014.

As reported by The Mirror, Carrick gave the television interview following United’s 2-0 defeat to Olympiakos to which Keane said:

“That interview was just like the performance: flat. He should say a bit more, have a bit more urgency, even in the interview,” said Keane.

Carrick’s wife Lisa responded on social media, writing: “Roy Keane what a **** will say anything to provoke a reaction.”

Speaking this week in his press conference before facing Manchester City on Saturday afternoon, Carrick says Keane’s opinion is irrelevant.

“Honestly, it didn’t bother me.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the Federal Government’s hiring of a United States-based lobbying firm, DCI Group, under a $9 million contract to improve Nigeria’s image abroad.

PDP in a statement on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, described the deal as “defective, deceptive, and shameful.”

Ememobong slammed the Bola Tinubu administration for outsourcing Nigeria’s image management to a foreign firm despite maintaining a fully staffed Ministry of Information and a network of media aides.

“This revelation is as disturbing as it is shameful that a government with a full Ministry of Information and a litany of media aides will be paying a foreign firm to launder its image,” Ememobong said.

“This is a clear indication that the President does not have confidence in the Ministry of Information and his media aides.”

According to filings with the US Department of Justice, Aster Legal, a Kaduna-based law firm, reportedly contracted DCI Group on behalf of National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. The engagement, which is to run for six months and automatically renew for another six months, is aimed at “assisting the Nigerian government in communicating its actions to protect Nigerian Christian communities.”

The PDP, however, questioned the rationale and transparency behind the agreement, demanding immediate clarifications from the Presidency.

“We seek clarification from the Presidency on the following: Was this contract budgeted for in the 2025 budget? Why was it done through a private law firm and not the Federal Ministry of Justice? What are the duties of the Information and Public Relations officers in diplomatic missions abroad? And what are the Key Performance Indicators for this contract?” Ememobong queried.

The opposition party further argued that no foreign lobbying firm can alter Nigeria’s global image without genuine improvements in governance and security.

“No lobbying or strategic communication firm can create narratives that will replace the lived experiences of the people,” the statement noted.

“If the Tinubu administration is desirous of changing the perception of the country abroad, it should invest more in the security of lives and property, not in deceptive communication.”

Ememobong accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of seeking “easy public validation through ephemeral optics,” urging President Tinubu to focus instead on solving Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

“The President should be more interested in ensuring that all Nigerians, irrespective of religion, are safe and free to worship God in their chosen way, and that mass killings are reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.

“When these feats are achieved, Nigerians will reflect safety, and that will concomitantly dictate the global perception of Nigerians.”

The PDP concluded its statement by advising the government to “concentrate on the hard task of providing sustainable solutions to the nation’s primary challenge — insecurity.”