Igoh Ogbu Proud of Super Eagles After AFCON 2025 Bronze Finish

Super Eagles centre-back Igoh Ogbu has expressed pride after Nigeria secured the bronze medal at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, following a penalty shootout victory over Egypt in the third-place playoff in Casablanca.

Ogbu, making his first AFCON appearance for the national team, spoke warmly about the experience and his admiration for the collective spirit shown by his teammates throughout the tournament. “I think the team is amazing. I love this team. I think this is one of the best teams we have ever had,” he said.

The 25 year old Slavia Prague defender started twice during the competition and reflected on the support of his family — who he said have always backed his football journey — as a source of motivation.

Nigeria remained unbeaten in regular time during the tournament, and the bronze medal extended the country’s record for most third-place finishes in AFCON history.

Ogbu now hopes to build on the experience he gained at AFCON 2025 as he continues to develop his international career with the Super Eagles.

EDITORIAL

In the theatre of international football, personal pride often intertwines with collective identity, and in that intersection, careers are shaped and memories are etched. When Igoh Ogbu spoke of his pride in Nigeria’s bronze-medal finish at AFCON 2025, he articulated a sentiment that resonates beyond the individual — it spoke to the heartbeat of a nation that watched its team confront adversity, recalibrate after disappointment and finish with its dignity intact.

Nigeria’s third-place victory — wrought through a nerveless penalty shootout against a formidable Egyptian side — was not merely a consolation it was a reaffirmation of a collective will shaped over the course of a gruelling tournament. To remain unbeaten in regulation time and to extend an unmatched run in bronze-medal matches in the competition’s history is an achievement that transcends the immediacy of medals and enters the realm of legacy.

For Ogbu, whose journey has seen him forge his craft in European club football, this AFCON chapter represents more than caps or minutes; it is a milestone in maturity. His reflections delivered with both humility and joy mirror the narrative of a defender coming into his own on the continental stage, absorbing lessons in resilience and leadership that cannot be taught but must be lived.

Yet, there is a deeper narrative at play here, one that extends beyond the scoreline. Football at this level demands more than physical ability it demands psychological resilience and a capacity to thrive amidst pressure. When Ogbu spoke of his love for this team, he was acknowledging an ecosystem of coaches, teammates and supporters — that has shaped a collective identity capable of absorbing setbacks and responding with character.

As Nigeria looks forward, the experiences from AFCON 2025 will live not only in the medal cabinet but in the mindset of its players. For Ogbu and his peers, the task ahead is to translate pride into progress building on a foundation that, while not crowned with the ultimate prize, now stands strengthened by purpose.

DID YOU KNOW?

1. Nigeria’s bronze medal at AFCON 2025 extended their perfect record in third-place matches, winning every one they have contested in the tournament’s history.
2. The Super Eagles finished AFCON 2025 without losing in regulation time, demonstrating consistency throughout the competition.
3. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali played a key role in the bronze–medal win, saving two penalties in the shootout to help edge Egypt.
4. Igoh Ogbu made two starts during the AFCON 2025 tournament, earning valuable experience early in his international career.
5. Ogbu plays club football for Slavia Prague, where he has featured regularly and continues to develop his game in European competition.