The third-place playoffs in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have seen numerous thrilling matches. The upcoming CAN 2025 tournament will feature a decisive clash between Egypt and Nigeria on January 17, 2026, at 16:00 GMT. This match will mark an important moment in the tournament’s extensive history.
Historical Context of Third-Place Playoffs in CAN 2025
Nigeria holds an impressive record in these playoff matches. The Super Eagles have finished in third place a remarkable eight times, with victories in 1976, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2019. Notably, they have never lost a third-place playoff match, establishing themselves as the team to watch in this category.
List of Third-Place Playoffs
Below is a comprehensive list of all third-place playoff results in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations:
| Year | Teams | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Tunisia vs Uganda | 3–0 |
| 1963 | United Arab Republic vs Ethiopia | 3–0 |
| 1965 | Ivory Coast vs Senegal | 1–0 |
| 1968 | Ivory Coast vs Ethiopia | 1–0 |
| 1970 | United Arab Republic vs Ivory Coast | 3–1 |
| 1972 | Cameroon vs Zaire | 5–2 |
| 1974 | Egypt vs Congo | 4–0 |
| 1976 | Nigeria vs Egypt | 3–2 |
| 1978 | Nigeria vs Tunisia | 2–0 |
| 1980 | Morocco vs Egypt | 2–0 |
| 1982 | Zambia vs Algeria | 2–0 |
| 1984 | Algeria vs Egypt | 3–1 |
| 1986 | Ivory Coast vs Morocco | 3–2 |
| 1988 | Algeria vs Morocco | 1–1 (4–3 pens) |
| 1990 | Zambia vs Senegal | 1–0 |
| 1992 | Nigeria vs Cameroon | 2–1 |
| 1994 | Ivory Coast vs Mali | 3–1 |
| 1996 | Zambia vs Ghana | 1–0 |
| 1998 | DR Congo vs Burkina Faso | 4–4 (4–1 pens) |
| 2000 | South Africa vs Tunisia | 2–2 (4–3 pens) |
| 2002 | Nigeria vs Mali | 1–0 |
| 2004 | Nigeria vs Mali | 2–1 |
| 2006 | Nigeria vs Senegal | 1–0 |
| 2008 | Ghana vs Ivory Coast | 4–2 |
| 2010 | Nigeria vs Algeria | 1–0 |
| 2012 | Mali vs Ghana | 2–0 |
| 2013 | Mali vs Ghana | 3–1 |
| 2015 | DR Congo vs Equatorial Guinea | 0–0 (4–2 pens) |
| 2017 | Burkina Faso vs Ghana | 1–0 |
| 2019 | Nigeria vs Tunisia | 1–0 |
| 2021 | Cameroon vs Burkina Faso | 3–3 (5–3 pens) |
| 2023 | South Africa vs DR Congo | 0–0 (6–5 pens) |
The upcoming CAN 2025 third-place playoff promises to add another thrilling chapter to this storied competition. With Nigeria’s successful history in these matches, fans are eagerly awaiting the outcome against Egypt.
