Hosts Morocco booked their place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final after a nervy semifinal showdown with Nigeria, winning 4–2 on penalties following a tense 0–0 draw through 120 minutes of action at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Wednesday night.
The match, played in front of a raucous home crowd of over 65000, was a cagey affair with few clear-cut openings for either side. Both Morocco and Nigeria struggled to break through well-organised defences, and despite periods of pressure, neither team managed to find the back of the net in regular or extra time.
Morocco looked the more likely to score in the first half, with several chances created through quick attacking combinations, but Nigeria’s defence, marshalled by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, repelled threats repeatedly. Nigeria’s forward line, featuring talisman Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, was kept largely quiet as the Super Eagles struggled to turn possession into meaningful attacking opportunities.
As the game stretched into extra time, fatigue began to show for both sides. Substitutes were introduced in attempts to spark decisive moments, but chances remained at a premium, and the deadlock held firm — setting the stage for the dramatic penalty shootout.
Penalty Shootout Drama
In the shootout, Morocco’s Yassine Bounou emerged as the hero, producing crucial saves to deny Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, swinging momentum in favour of the hosts. Nigeria’s Nwabali had initially given the Super Eagles an advantage following his save of Hamza Igamane, but he could do nothing to stop Morocco’s other efforts as Eliesse Ben Seghir, captain Achraf Hakimi and Youssef En-Nesyri converted the next three spot-kicks to spark wild celebrations among the home supporters.
What’s Next?
The victory marks Morocco’s first AFCON final appearance since 2004, offering them a historic chance to lift Africa’s most coveted trophy on home soil — a feat they haven’t achieved since winning the tournament in 1976. The Atlas Lions will now face Senegal in the AFCON 2025 final after the defending champions edged out Egypt earlier in the day. Nigeria’s campaign continues as they prepare for the third-place playoff against Egypt.
