Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy lauded his team’s performance during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after the Pharaohs fell 4-2 to Nigeria on penalties in the third-place decider on Saturday.
“I thank all the players for their performance during the game and the tournament overall,” The 37-year-old Ahly keeper told BeIn Sports.
Egypt reached the semifinals after defeating Côte d’Ivoire in the quarterfinals, but were knocked out by Senegal in the last four.
“Many did not expect us to reach the semifinals, but we ran a brilliant campaign for and in this edition,” El-Shenawy added.
The third-place decider ended goalless in regulation time, with Nigeria holding their nerve from the spot to secure third place.
“We did our best during the game, but the penalty shootout went against us,” he said.
“The match also allowed us to test new players, and the coaching staff gained valuable insights for the future.”
Senegal will face hosts Morocco in the final on Sunday.
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