Nigeria wrapped up their Africa Cup of Nations campaign on a proud note with a dramatic third-place playoff victory over Egypt, but new revelations from the match have reignited debate among fans online.

Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has disclosed the exact words exchanged between himself and Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy moments before his penalty during the tense shootout.

The playoff clash took place on Saturday, January 17, following semi-final heartbreaks for both teams. Nigeria had narrowly lost to hosts Morocco, while Egypt were eliminated by eventual champions Senegal.

After 90 minutes of tightly contested, goalless football, the match was decided from the spot. Nigeria kept their composure to secure a 4–2 win on penalties, with Ademola Lookman converting the decisive kick to seal the bronze medal.

Attention later shifted to a viral clip from the shootout showing El-Shenawy appearing to speak to Iwobi before his attempt. In a behind-the-scenes Super Eagles video, Lookman asked Iwobi what the goalkeeper had said.
Iwobi responded humorously:

“He said, ‘Iwobi, I know where you’re going to play it. If I save your penalty, you’ll give me your shirt.’ I said no problem 🤣”

Despite the attempted mind game, Iwobi calmly dispatched his penalty, keeping Nigeria in control before Lookman stepped up to end Egypt’s resistance.

The victory ensured the Super Eagles finished the tournament on a positive note, restoring confidence within the squad and providing optimism ahead of future international assignments.