Alex Iwobi recalls brief AFCON 2025 exchange with Egypt goalkeeper Oufa Shobeir before scoring penalty to secure Nigeria’s bronze medal

Nigeria midfielder Alex Iwobi has revealed details of a brief conversation he shared with Egypt goalkeeper Oufa Shobeir during the penalty shootout in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off last Saturday.

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The contest between Nigeria and Egypt remained goalless after 90 minutes, leading to a shootout in which the Super Eagles triumphed 4–2 to claim their ninth AFCON bronze medal.

During the shootout, Shobeir denied Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s opening penalty, but could not stop subsequent kicks from Akor Adams, Moses Simon, Iwobi, and Ademola Lookman.

As Iwobi prepared to take his kick, Nigeria led 2–1.

The 25-year-old Fulham midfielder later shared in his AFCON diaries vlog that Shobeir attempted to unsettle him with a brief exchange.

“He said to me, ‘Iwobi, I know where you are going to go. If I save your penalty, you give me your shirt.’ I said, ‘No problem, I’ll give you my shirt, bro.’ Then he said, ‘OK, let’s go.’ I just laughed,” Iwobi recounted.

Shobeir, the son of legendary Egyptian goalkeeper Ahmed Shobair, mirrored his father’s confident antics from the 1994 AFCON in Tunisia, when Ahmed had boasted that Rashidi Yekini would not score against him.

Despite Yekini striking the crossbar during the match, Nigeria went on to win the tournament, claiming their second continental title.

Since 1994, Nigeria has won only one more AFCON title, lifting the trophy again in 2013.

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Iwobi’s goal helped secure a historic podium finish for the Super Eagles at the 2025 edition of Africa’s premier football tournament.