The home-based Super Eagles did not leave South Africa empty-handed after all, winning the third place match against Zimbabwe 1-0. After the 4-1 penalty loss to Ghana in the semi-final match, Nigerians had all but given up hope of silverware at the tournament, but the home-based eagles rallied to a victory to ensure third place consolation in their maiden appearance at the tournament to the delight of their football loving countrymen.

As it happened in the semi-final encounter, the Nigerians could not capital on their numerical advantage, with the Zimbabweans a player short as early as the first half of the match when one of them was red-carded. The second half was largely uneventful until the 85th minute when Chinonso Obiozor headed home a crossing from Ejike Uzoenyi to give Nigeria the only goal of the encounter.