Alex Iwobi Reveals What Egyptian Goalkeeper Told Him Before AFCON Penalty

 

Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has opened up about the exchange he had with Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy moments before taking his penalty during Nigeria’s third-place playoff victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Nigeria faced Egypt in the bronze medal match on Saturday, January 17, after both teams were eliminated in the semi-finals — the Super Eagles falling to host nation Morocco, while Egypt were knocked out by eventual champions Senegal.

After a tense 90 minutes ended goalless, the match was decided by a penalty shootout, with Nigeria emerging 4–2 winners. Calm finishes from the Super Eagles, capped by Ademola Lookman’s decisive strike, secured the third-place finish.

A clip from the shootout later went viral on social media, showing El-Shenawy appearing to engage Iwobi in a brief exchange before the kick, sparking curiosity among fans.

Speaking in a behind-the-scenes team video, Iwobi revealed that the Egyptian goalkeeper attempted to play mind games, claiming he knew where the shot would be placed and even joking about taking Iwobi’s jersey if he made the save.

Unfazed by the distraction, the Fulham midfielder calmly converted his penalty, putting Nigeria firmly on course for victory before Lookman sealed the shootout.

The bronze-medal finish ensured Nigeria ended their AFCON 2025 campaign on a positive note, helping ease the disappointment of the semi-final loss and restoring confidence ahead of future international engagements.