CAN 2025: All the third-place playoffs in the tournament’s history

17.01.26 AP AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations

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Egypt and Nigeria are set to clash this Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 16:00 GMT in the third-place playoff of CAN 2025.

Nigeria holds the record for the most third-place finishes—eight times in 1976, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2019. The Super Eagles have never lost a third-place match.

Also read: CAN 2025: It's alreadya ticketing disaster

The Pharaohs finished third in 1963, 1970, and 1974, but lost three bronze medal games in 1976, 1980, and 1984.

Here is the full list of all third-place playoffs in the tournament’s history:

1962: Tunisia 3–0 Uganda

1963: United Arab Republic 3–0 Ethiopia

1965: Ivory Coast 1–0 Senegal

1968: Ivory Coast 1–0 Ethiopia

1970: United Arab Republic 3–1 Ivory Coast

1972: Cameroon 5–2 Zaire

1974: Egypt 4–0 Congo

1976: Nigeria 3–2 Egypt

1978: Nigeria 2–0 Tunisia

1980: Morocco 2–0 Egypt

1982: Zambia 2–0 Algeria

1984: Algeria 3–1 Egypt

1986: Ivory Coast 3–2 Morocco

1988: Algeria 1–1 Morocco (4–3 pens)

1990: Zambia 1–0 Senegal

1992: Nigeria 2–1 Cameroon

1994: Ivory Coast 3–1 Mali

1996: Zambia 1–0 Ghana

1998: DR Congo 4–4 Burkina Faso (4–1 pens)

2000: South Africa 2–2 Tunisia (4–3 pens)

2002: Nigeria 1–0 Mali

2004: Nigeria 2–1 Mali

2006: Nigeria 1–0 Senegal

2008: Ghana 4–2 Ivory Coast

2010: Nigeria 1–0 Algeria

2012: Mali 2–0 Ghana

2013: Mali 3–1 Ghana

2015: DR Congo 0–0 Equatorial Guinea (4–2 pens)

2017: Burkina Faso 1–0 Ghana

2019: Nigeria 1–0 Tunisia

2021: Cameroon 3–3 Burkina Faso (5–3 pens)

2023: South Africa 0–0 DR Congo (6–5 pens)

Bronze Medal on the line! 🥉

The Pharaohs face the Super Eagles in an intense showdown today. Who takes it? 🇪🇬🇳🇬#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/uSOmB9Bn5q

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 17, 2026

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

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