Why Super Eagles Skipped AFCON Bronze Medal Ceremony — NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has explained why Super Eagles players were not present at the official bronze medal ceremony after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Nigeria secured third place on Saturday, beating Egypt 4–2 on penalties in the third-place playoff. But when the tournament concluded on Sunday with the final between host Morocco and Senegal, Nigerian players were absent from th

That absence sparked questions and speculation among fans who expected the team to receive their medals on the spot, especially after delivering what became a record-setting bronze finish for Nigeria in AFCON history.

“Their clubs were already after them”

NFF President Ibrahim Gusau said the players could not remain in camp until Sunday’s ceremony because of immediate pressure from their clubs, who demanded their return right after Saturday’s match.

Gusau, quoted in a post shared on X on Monday by journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, said the timing of the ceremony made it impractical for teams in the third-place match to keep their squads around for another day,particularly in a period when club commitments are intense and release windows are tight.

“The players could not wait to receive their medals on Sunday. Their clubs were already after them to come back after Saturday’s game,” Gusau said.

In a key detail aimed at calming concerns, the NFF president added that the medals were not “missed” in the sense of being forfeited or withheld. He said they were handed over and are now in his possession.

“I have the medals in my possession,” he stated.

Egypt also face the same situation

Gusau also made it clear that Nigeria’s case was not an isolated incident. According to him, Egypt versus Nigeria’s opponent in the third-place match was confronted by the same logistical challenge. Like Nigeria, Egypt’s players also had club demands pushing for immediate return after the playoff.

“And this is the case for Egypt too, not just us,” Gusau said.

This point matters because it reframes the story from a “team snubbed the podium” narrative to a broader scheduling and player-release issue that affects multiple nations whose players are largely based in competitive club environments.

The bigger issue: ceremony timing

At the heart of the controversy is timing. Gusau argued that if the bronze medal ceremony had been held on the day of the third-place match, immediately after the final whistle players would have received their medals in the usual celebratory manner and returned to their clubs without any drama.

“Had the medal ceremony taken place on the day of the match, they would have had the medals,” he said.

National teams may be the pride of the country, but clubs pay the wages, manage the contracts, and often determine how quickly players must return after tournaments or international windows.

Nigeria’s historic bronze: ninth third-place finish

Beyond the ceremony debate, Nigeria’s win over Egypt carried a major milestone. The victory delivered Nigeria’s ninth third-place finish at AFCON, reported as the highest number of bronze finishes in the competition’s history.

For the Super Eagles, that record adds context to why fans expected a moment of public recognition at the medal presentation. The team’s achievement was significant, and supporters wanted to see the players celebrated officially, not just on paper.

What happens to the medals now?

With Gusau confirming that the medals are in his possession, the next question is straightforward: when and how will the players receive them?

While Gusau did not outline a specific handover plan in the remarks attributed to him, the implication is that the medals will be delivered to the squad through the federation’s internal arrangements, either during a subsequent team gathering, via direct distribution to players, or through a formal presentation at a later NFF event.

The medals exist, they have been secured, and Nigeria has not lost any official recognition for finishing third.