AFCON 2025: Egypt coach vows Pharaohs will defeat Super Eagles in Third-Place Playoff

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has vowed that the Pharaohs will fight to defeat Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the AFCON third-place playoff.

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has declared his team’s determination to overcome Nigeria’s Super Eagles in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) third-place playoff.

Hassan insisted that the Pharaohs are fully focused on ending the tournament with a medal.

The encounter is scheduled for Saturday at the Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca, where two of Africa’s most decorated football nations will battle for third place after falling short in the semi-finals.

Egypt’s hopes of reaching the final were dashed following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Senegal in the semi-finals.

What Hassan said

Despite the setback, Hassan believed the playoff presented a valuable opportunity to close the competition on a positive note.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, the former Egyptian international stressed the importance of finishing on the podium.

“We will fight for victory tomorrow to get on the podium and close the AFCON on a positive note,” Hassan said.

“The most important thing now is to capitalize on the achievements of this AFCON and correct the mistakes in preparation for the next competitions,” he added.

Nigeria, meanwhile, arrived at the playoff after a dramatic semi-final exit at the hands of host nation Morocco, losing 4-2 on penalties following a tense draw in regulation time.

Like Egypt, the Super Eagles will be eager to bounce back and secure a morale-boosting victory to round off their AFCON campaign.