Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero as Morocco reached the final of the Africa Cup of for the first time in 21 years. They defeated Nigeria 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a goalless semi-final in Rabat.
After 90 minutes and extra time ended without goals, the match went to penalties. Bounou made key saves against Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, helping Morocco move closer to winning the tournament.
Neil El Aynaoui and Paul Onuachu scored the initial penalties for their teams. Nigeria gained the upper hand when Stanley Nwabali saved Hamza Igamane’s kick. However, Bounou responded by saving Chukwueze’s penalty, tying the scores.
Eliesse Ben Seghir and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru both scored their penalties. Captain Achraf Hakimi then stepped up and confidently gave Morocco a 3-2 lead.
Bounou made another crucial save against Onyemaechi’s penalty. With the crowd holding its breath, Youssef En-Nesyri took the final penalty and scored, sending the Rabat fans into celebration and marking a historic night for Morocco.
Morocco’s victory eased the pressure of hosting the tournament, while Nigeria missed the chance for a second straight AFCON final and will now prepare for the third-place match against Egypt.
The balanced semi-final saw both teams create chances, with Brahim Diaz just missing a curling shot and Nwabali saving a low effort from Ismail Saibari. Morocco’s vigilant defence closely marked Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen.
In the second half, Morocco controlled the game more, pushing forward. Calvin Bassey played well for Nigeria, using his strength to withstand Morocco’s pressure.
Morocco’s best chance came from Abde Ezzalzouli, whose curling shot was saved by Nwabali. As exhaustion set in during extra time, both teams played cautiously. With no goals after 120 minutes, it went to penalties, where Bounou shone again, leading Morocco to the AFCON final.
Yassine Bounou (Morocco) – TotalEnergies Man of the Match: “The atmosphere was amazing, and I thank the fans for their support. The players gave their all in a tough match against a strong Nigeria. I appreciate our coach, Walid Regragui, and my teammates. Our fans inspire us, and we will focus on recovery for the final.”
Eric Chelle – Head Coach of Nigeria: “Losing on penalties is painful. The match was challenging, and while we showed determination, we need to keep improving. Our technical play wasn’t as strong as before, and we lacked movement and energy.”
Walid Regragui – Head Coach of Morocco: “Thank you to everyone who supported us. The encouraging messages motivated us, and I’m proud of our players. Reaching the AFCON final at home is a fantastic achievement. Now we must recover quickly. Congratulations to Nigeria and Coach Eric Chelle for their efforts.”
