The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Moroccan referee Jalal Jiyed to officiate the highly anticipated third-place playoff at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Pharaohs of Egypt.
Jiyed will be assisted by his compatriots Zakaria Brinsi and Akarkad Mostafa as assistant referees, while Tunisia’s Hassani Khalil will serve as the third assistant referee. Kenyan official Peter Kamaku has been named the fourth official for the encounter.
For Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties, CAF has selected Algeria’s Lahlou Benbraham, who will be supported by Tunisia’s Haythem Guirat and Morocco’s Hamza El Fariq. Sinko Zelli of Côte d’Ivoire has been appointed as the referee assessor for the fixture.
Read Also: AFCON: Super Eagles, Egypt clash for bronze in Casablanca
Nigeria will battle Egypt for the AFCON bronze medal on Saturday at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca, with kick-off scheduled for 5:00pm local time. The match will mark the 10th meeting between the two sides in the Africa Cup of Nations history.
Semi-Final Heartbreak for Both Sides
Both teams head into the playoffs seeking redemption after semi-final disappointment. Egypt were edged out 1–0 by Senegal in Tangier, while Nigeria suffered penalty shootout heartbreak against tournament hosts Morocco following a hard-fought contest in Rabat.
Between them, the two continental heavyweights boast 10 AFCON titles and arrived in Morocco determined to add to their rich histories, only to fall short at the last-four stage.
Nigeria’s Morale Boost
With 14 goals scored in six matches and unbeaten in regulation time, the Super Eagles will feel unfortunate not to be contesting the final. Words of encouragement from fans and stakeholders have lifted team morale, with the squad training upon arrival in Casablanca on Thursday. An official training session is also scheduled at the Raja Oasis training ground on Friday.
Battle of Bronze Kings
Egypt and Nigeria are the most successful nations in AFCON bronze-medal matches, with the Super Eagles winning eight times and the Pharaohs six. A Nigerian victory would extend that lead, while an Egyptian win would narrow the gap.
Nigeria have never lost an AFCON bronze-medal match. Their first bronze came in 1976 at Egypt’s expense, with goals from Haruna Ilerika (two) and Mudashiru Lawal securing a 3–2 victory in Addis Ababa.
Nigeria’s Bronze Pedigree
Nigeria’s most recent bronze-medal triumph was achieved in Egypt, when Odion Ighalo’s second-minute strike sealed a 1–0 win over Tunisia in Cairo. Other bronze medals were secured in 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2010.
Recent Head-to-Head
Nigeria won the most recent meeting between the two sides, edging Egypt 1–0 at the Stade Roumde Adjia, further boosting the Super Eagles’ confidence ahead of Saturday’s clash.
The Super Eagles will aim to round off their AFCON 2025 campaign on a positive note by securing yet another bronze medal when they take on the Pharaohs.
