The Confederation of African Football has appointed Moroccan referee Jalal Jiyed to take charge of the third-place playoff match between Nigeria and Egypt at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The encounter will be played later today at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco. Kick-off is scheduled for 5 pm West African Time, with both teams aiming to conclude their AFCON campaigns on a positive note after narrowly missing out on a place in the final.
CAF confirmed that Jiyed will serve as the centre referee for the fixture. He will be assisted by fellow officials Zakaria Brinsi, Akarkad Mostafa, and Hassani Khalil, who will operate as assistant referees during the match.
Kenyan official Peter Waweru Kamaku has been named as the fourth official for the encounter. Video Assistant Referee duties will be handled by Algerian referee Lahlu Benbraham, with support from Haythem Guirat and Hamza El Fariq.
CAF also disclosed that Sinko Zeli will act as the referee assessor for the match, which is the penultimate game of the tournament. The appointment of match officials comes as both teams prepare for what is expected to be a competitive contest.
Nigeria and Egypt arrive in Casablanca following contrasting but equally painful semi-final defeats. The Super Eagles were knocked out by tournament hosts Morocco after a dramatic and tense encounter that ended in a penalty shootout.
Nigeria held its own against the hosts in regulation time, with both sides unable to find a decisive goal. After extra time failed to produce a winner, Morocco edged the Super Eagles on penalties to secure a place in the final.
The defeat ended Nigeria’s hopes of lifting the AFCON title but left the team determined to finish the tournament strongly. The Super Eagles have been among the standout teams of the competition and will be eager to secure third place.
Egypt, on the other hand, was eliminated in the semi-finals after a narrow 1-0 loss to defending champions Senegal. The Pharaohs put up a strong defensive performance but were undone by a decisive moment that sent Senegal through to the final.
The loss was a disappointment for Egypt, which came into the tournament with high expectations and a rich history in the competition. The third-place playoff now offers them an opportunity to end the tournament with a podium finish.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has made it clear that the match against Egypt is important for his team. He has stressed that pride, confidence, and momentum are at stake, particularly as the team looks ahead to future international commitments.
Chelle has indicated that his players remain motivated despite the semi-final setback. He believes that finishing the tournament with a victory would reflect the team’s overall performance and effort throughout the competition.
The Nigerian coach is also expected to use the match to further assess his squad, with an eye on building continuity and depth ahead of upcoming qualifiers and tournaments.
Egypt’s head coach, Hossam Hassan, has also underlined the importance of the playoff match. He views the game as a chance for his team to recover from the semi-final disappointment and restore confidence among players and supporters.
Hassan has said a third-place finish would be a fitting reward for his team’s resilience and tactical discipline during the tournament. He is expected to field a strong lineup as Egypt seeks to assert its pedigree on the continental stage.
The appointment of a Moroccan referee for the match has drawn attention, given that the host nation is not involved in the playoff. CAF has, however, maintained that officials are selected based on merit and experience.
As the two African heavyweights prepare to face off, anticipation is building among fans. Nigeria and Egypt share a long history of intense encounters at the Africa Cup of Nations, making the third-place match an attractive fixture despite the absence of a title at stake.
With both teams eager to finish on a high, the clash in Casablanca is expected to deliver a competitive and closely contested game as the AFCON 2025 tournament approaches its conclusion.
