2p25 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Morocco sealed a place in the final of the competition after defeating Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
After more than 120 minutes of tense, goalless football, the semi-final was decided from the spot, where the Atlas Lions held their nerve to prevail amid a raucous home atmosphere.
Before the encounter, Victor Osimhen had played down concerns about the intimidating Moroccan crowd, insisting the Super Eagles were used to “more high-wire, tenser conditions.” But once the match began, Nigeria struggled to find composure inside a stadium awash in red, with the constant roar and whistles of the home fans unsettling their rhythm.
Nigeria’s feared attacking trio of Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams — responsible for most of the team’s 14 goals at the tournament — were largely neutralised. Alex Iwobi’s creativity was stifled, his passes often drowned out by the hostile energy from the stands, as Morocco disrupted Nigeria’s flow throughout the contest.
The absence of suspended captain Wilfred Ndidi also proved costly. Raphael Onyedika found it difficult to fill the void, while Frank Onyeka was stretched thin as he attempted to cover multiple roles in midfield.
Although Lookman registered Nigeria’s first effort on target, the Super Eagles managed just one more shot on goal across the entire match. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was kept busy at the other end, while Morocco’s Yassine Bounou was rarely tested.
Defensively, Nigeria’s backline of Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi and Bright Osayi-Samuel put in a grueling shift, repeatedly denying waves of attacks led by Brahim Diaz, Ayoub El-Kaabi and Abde Ezzalzouli.
It was a frustrating evening for head coach Eric Chelle and his players, who had dazzled in earlier rounds. There were also murmurs of discontent within the Nigerian camp over some decisions by Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea, particularly calls they felt disrupted their momentum.
Nigeria survived long enough to force penalties — a stage that has haunted the team before, having cost them qualification for the 2026 World Cup. When Nwabali saved Hamza Igamane’s effort, hopes briefly surged. But misses from Samuel Chukwueze and Onyemaechi, both denied by Bounou, swung the balance back to Morocco. Youssef En-Nesyri then calmly converted the decisive kick.
The defeat means Nigeria’s quest for a fourth AFCON title has once again been ended by a host nation, following their loss to Côte d’Ivoire in the final of the previous edition in Abidjan.
Morocco will face Senegal in Sunday’s final, while Nigeria will battle Egypt in Saturday’s third-place playoff.
