Three-time champions Nigeria wished to add a new star on their green jersey, but their campaign was cut short at the semifinal stage.
Now they will play for the bronze against Tunisia on Wednesday at Cairo’s Al Salam Stadium.
Nigeria started their campaign in the Alexandria-based Group B defeating Burundi 1-0. Odion Ighalo scored after 77 minutes to hand the Super Eagles their first three points.
Tunisia and Nigeria end their #TotalAFCON2019 campaigns today in a 3rd-place playoff clash at the Al-Salam Stadium Cairo. pic.twitter.com/07caE5RK3E— SuperSport ???? (@SuperSportTV) July 17, 2019
They then defeated Guinea with the same result, with Kenneth Omeruo scoring the game’s lone goal after 73 minutes.
But they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Madagascar in the final group game to finish in second place with six points, one shy of leaders Madagascar.
3rd-place is up for grabs at #AFCON2019 as Tunisia and Nigeria square off for the bronze medal. Who do you think will come out victorious ??— SuperSport ???? (@SuperSportTV) July 16, 2019
Nigeria then defeated title holders Cameroon 3-2 in the round of 16, also at Alexandria Stadium. Ighalo (19, 63) and Alex Iwobi (66) scored for the Super Eagles.
In the quarterfinals they defeated South Africa at Cairo International Stadium 2-1, with Samuel Chukwueze (27) and William Troost-Ekong (89) as scorers.
Nigeria will look to finish off strong this Wednesday when they face Tunisia in the 3rd and 4th #TotalAFCON2019 playoff.Can they finish the job to secure the bronze medal? pic.twitter.com/hxd9uMHKU2— SuperSport ???? (@SuperSportTV) July 15, 2019
But their way was stopped in the semifinal with a 2-1 defeat to Algeria, with Ighalo scoring Nigeria’s only goal from the spot after 72 minutes. They will now face Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles, looking for a place on the podium.
NIGERIA’S ROAD TO THE THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF:
Group stage: Nigeria 1-0 Burundi
Group stage: Nigeria 1-0 Guinea
Group stage: Madagascar 2-0 Nigeria
Round of 16: Nigeria 3-2 Cameroon
Quarterfinal: Nigeria 2-1 South Africa
Semifinal: Algeria 2-1 Nigeria
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