Morocco booked a dramatic place in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on Wednesday night after defeating Nigeria 4–2 on penalties following a tense 0–0 draw after extra time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as the decisive figure for the hosts, producing crucial saves during the shoot-out to deny Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, and tilt the balance firmly in Morocco’s favour. His heroics sparked wild celebrations among home supporters, who watched Youssef En-Nesyri calmly convert the winning penalty to seal the victory.
The shoot-out had its moments of drama for both sides. Morocco’s Hamza Igamane saw his effort stopped by Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali, but the Atlas Lions held their nerve, with captain Achraf Hakimi and his teammates confidently dispatching their spot-kicks to keep their title hopes alive.
For Nigeria, the defeat marked another agonising exit at the final hurdle stage of the competition, coming just two years after the Super Eagles lost the 2023 AFCON final to hosts Côte d’Ivoire. Despite a disciplined defensive display and resilience through 120 minutes, the West Africans were undone by Morocco’s composure from the penalty spot.
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Under head coach Walid Regragui, Morocco continue to chase a first AFCON title in 50 years, and the hard-fought semi-final victory will bolster belief amid mounting expectations from the home crowd.
Morocco will now face Senegal in Sunday’s final after the Lions of Teranga edged Egypt 1–0 in the other semi-final, courtesy of a decisive strike from Sadio Mané. The showdown is set to pit Africa’s top two FIFA-ranked teams against each other in what promises to be a fitting climax to the tournament.
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