SUPER EAGLES FALL TO MOROCCO ON PENALTIES AS AFCON DREAM ENDS

By: Gyang Dakwo

Nigeria’s wait for a first Africa Cup of Nations title since 2013 will continue after the Super Eagles lost to hosts Morocco in the semi-final of AFCON 2025 on Wednesday night.

The match ended goalless after extra time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, and Morocco went on to win 4 to 2 on penalties to book their place in the final.

Nigeria had reached the last four with confidence, having topped their group, beaten Mozambique in the round of 16, and then defeated Algeria 2 to 0 in the quarterfinals.

However, the Super Eagles struggled to find their rhythm against Morocco and looked short of ideas for most of the contest.

The 120 minutes of play produced few clear chances, and while both teams were cautious, Morocco created the better openings. Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali kept his side in the game with several fine saves.

Nigeria came into the semi-final as the highest scoring team in the tournament, but they offered very little going forward on the night. The attacking threat that had carried them through earlier rounds was largely missing, and the team failed to trouble the Moroccan defence, and so the match drifted into a penalty shootout

In the shootout, Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi both saw their penalties saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, and that proved decisive. Bounou made two saves to send the Atlas Lions into their first AFCON final since 2004.

Morocco was disciplined and efficient, as they have been throughout the competition, even if they have not always been at their best. They are now one win away from a first continental title since 1976.

They will face Senegal in the final after the Lions of Teranga beat Egypt 1 to 0 in the first semi-final earlier on Wednesday in Tangier, with Sadio Mane scoring the winning goal.

For Nigeria, attention now turns to the bronze medal match against Egypt on Saturday. However, that game will offer little comfort for a Super Eagles side that had hoped to lift the trophy and ease the disappointment of missing out on qualification for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.