Nigeria secured the bronze medal after defeating Egypt 4–2 on penalties in the third-place playoff on Saturday, capping off a strong campaign by Eric Chelle’s side. However, unlike previous editions, the official medal ceremony was scheduled to take place after Sunday’s final between Morocco and Senegal.
By the time the ceremony was held, most members of the Nigerian squad had already departed the tournament venue to return to their respective clubs. As a result, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau received the bronze medals on behalf of the players.
According to Gusau, the tight club schedules of the Super Eagles stars made it impractical for them to remain with the team until after the final match. He explained that several clubs were keen on having their players return immediately following Saturday’s encounter.
The NFF president added that the medals are currently in his custody and will be handed over to the players at the appropriate time. He also noted that Nigeria was not alone in this situation, pointing out that Egypt faced a similar challenge and would have had their players present if the medal ceremony had been held on the same day as the third-place match.
The explanation has put to rest concerns over the team’s absence, underscoring the growing influence of club commitments on international tournaments.