Post by : Meena Ariff

Morocco moved one step closer to ending a 50-year wait for an Africa Cup of Nations title after defeating Nigeria 4-2 on penalties in a tense semi-final that ended 0-0 after extra time. The dramatic victory came in front of a passionate home crowd of 65,458 fans at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where emotions ran high from start to finish.

Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the decisive figure on the night, producing two crucial saves in the shoot-out. His calm presence and sharp reflexes under pressure proved vital, allowing Morocco to book a place in Sunday’s final against Senegal.

The match itself was tight and physical, with both sides struggling to create clear chances over 120 minutes. Nigeria, who had been one of the most attacking teams in the tournament, found little space against Morocco’s well-organised defence. Likewise, the hosts were unable to break through Nigeria’s disciplined back line during normal time or extra time.

After the stalemate, the contest was decided from the penalty spot. Morocco gained an early advantage when Bounou saved Nigeria’s opening kick from Samuel Chukwueze, sending the home crowd into loud celebration. Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali responded by saving Hamza Igamane’s effort, briefly shifting momentum and leaving the Moroccan forward visibly distraught.

Bounou then delivered another outstanding moment by denying Bruno Onyemaechi with a brilliant save. With Morocco back in control, Youssef En-Nesyri stepped up to take the decisive penalty and calmly converted, sealing the win and sparking wild celebrations across the stadium. Captain Achraf Hakimi and the rest of Morocco’s penalty takers showed composure, with Igamane’s miss being the only blemish in the shoot-out.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui praised his players after the match, describing it as one of their toughest challenges at the tournament. He expressed happiness for both the team and the Moroccan people, saying the supporters truly deserved to see their side reach the final. Regragui also noted that his players would need to recover quickly after putting so much energy into the game.

The pressure on Morocco has been immense throughout the tournament, with fans hoping to see the national team lift the trophy for the first time since 1976. Playing on home soil has added to those expectations, but the team has shown growing confidence, especially after earlier doubts were eased by a strong quarter-final victory over Cameroon.

Morocco will now face Senegal in the final after the Lions of Teranga defeated Egypt 1-0 in the other semi-final thanks to a goal from Sadio Mané. The final will feature the two highest-ranked African teams in the FIFA rankings, promising a high-quality and fiercely contested showdown.

For Nigeria, the defeat was heartbreaking. Two years after losing the final to the hosts in Ivory Coast, the Super Eagles had hoped to claim a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title to match rivals Ghana. Led by star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Nigeria had been the tournament’s top scorers with 14 goals and were widely seen as one of the strongest teams.

However, they struggled to create meaningful chances in Rabat and appeared to settle for penalties as extra time progressed, even substituting Osimhen late on. Nigeria coach Eric Chelle said his players fought hard and accepted that losing on penalties is part of football, while also admitting how difficult it is to play against both Morocco and their home crowd.

The atmosphere inside the stadium played a major role, with Moroccan fans responding loudly to every spell of Nigerian possession. Earlier criticism from supporters during the group stage was replaced by full backing on the night, helping push the team through difficult moments.

The opening stages of the match were lively, with Morocco’s Brahim Díaz curling an early effort wide and Nigeria responding through Ademola Lookman, whose shot was well saved by Bounou. Morocco later threatened through a Hakimi free-kick and an Ismael Saibari effort, but Nwabali stood firm. As the game wore on, caution replaced attacking ambition, and penalties increasingly felt inevitable.

Morocco’s experience in shoot-outs, including their famous World Cup victory over Spain in 2022, proved decisive once again. With confidence growing and the final now within reach, Morocco’s dream of lifting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy on home soil remains very much alive, while Nigeria turn their attention to the third-place play-off against Egypt.

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