The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has explained why the bronze medals won by the Super Eagles at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) were not handed to the players after the third-place match.
According to NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, the players had already departed the tournament venue due to club commitments before the official medal presentation could take place.
Gusau disclosed that most of the Super Eagles players were under pressure from their respective clubs to return immediately after Saturday’s bronze medal match, making it impossible for them to wait for the ceremony held on Sunday.
“The players could not wait to receive their medals on Sunday. Their clubs were already after them to come back after Saturday’s game. I have the medals in my possession,” Gusau said.
He clarified that the situation was not unique to Nigeria, noting that members of the Egyptian team, who also featured in the third-place match, were affected in the same way.
“And this is the case for Egypt too, not just us. Had the medal ceremony taken place on the day of the match, they would have had the medals,” Gusau added.
The NFF president assured that the medals are safely in the federation’s custody and will be duly handed over to the players at an appropriate time.
The Super Eagles defeated Egypt in the third-place playoff to secure Nigeria’s ninth bronze medal in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations.
