Nigeria and Egypt played out a tense 0–0 draw in regulation time, forcing the encounter to be decided by penalties after neither side could find a breakthrough.
The match was tightly contested from the opening whistle, with both teams showing defensive discipline and limited clear-cut chances.
Egypt held their shape well, while Nigeria pressed aggressively in midfield, leading to a largely balanced first half.
Drama arrived in the 36th minute when a VAR review briefly halted play following an incident involving Nigeria’s Paul Onuachu, but no decisive action followed.
Onuachu remained a central figure moments later, while Moses Simon also went close in first-half stoppage time, yet the deadlock remained unbroken heading into halftime.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with intensity rising as both teams searched for a late winner.
Nigeria introduced fresh legs in the closing stages, including the appearance of O. Igoh in the 87th minute, but Egypt’s defense stood firm.
After full time ended goalless, the match proceeded directly to a penalty shootout to determine the winner, bringing an end to 90 minutes of evenly matched football that showcased tactical discipline and resilience from both sides.
