Morocco advances to Africa Cup of Nations final after 21-year wait

Morocco defeated Nigeria 4-2 in a penalty shootout on Wednesday to advance to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. The match, played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, ended in a 0-0 draw after extra time, setting up a final match against Senegal.

A crowd of 65,458 witnessed a tense encounter, decided by the lottery of a shootout. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou proved decisive, saving two Nigerian penalties, allowing Youssef En-Nesyri to score the winning kick.

Match Details

The semifinal clash was a tightly contested affair, with both teams struggling to break the deadlock during regular and extra time. Brahim Diaz of Morocco and Ademola Lookman of Nigeria had early chances, but neither team could capitalize. Hakimi and Saibari also had opportunities for Morocco, while Nwabali made crucial saves for Nigeria.

Shootout Drama

The match went to a penalty shootout, where Bounou’s heroics ultimately secured Morocco’s victory. He denied Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, while Hamza Igamane was the only Moroccan player to miss. Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali had a strong performance, but it wasn’t enough to prevent his team’s elimination.

Looking Ahead

Morocco will now face Senegal in the AFCON final on Sunday. This represents a significant moment for the nation, as they aim to win their first AFCON title in over half a century. The final will be a clash between the top two teams in the FIFA world rankings.

Nigeria’s Disappointment

The result was a crushing blow for Nigeria, who were eliminated in the semifinals for the second time in recent years. Despite being the top scorers of the tournament with 14 goals and featuring players like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Nigeria struggled to create chances against a resilient Moroccan defense. They will now play Egypt in the third-place play-off on Saturday.

Nigeria coach Eric Chelle acknowledged the difficulty of playing in Morocco, citing both the opposing team and the hostile crowd as factors.

Published on Jan 15, 2026