By Abdulkareem Haruna

In a grueling semifinal defined more by tactical caution than offensive flair, host nation Morocco secured a place in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on Wednesday, defeating Nigeria 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a scoreless 120 minutes.


The victory at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium sends the Atlas Lions to a high-stakes final against Senegal, while the Super Eagles are left to rue a night where their vaunted attack went cold.

Despite the star power on display—including Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Morocco’s Brahim Diaz—the match was a cagey affair. Nigeria held a slight edge in possession (51%), but struggled to penetrate a disciplined Moroccan backline. The Super Eagles managed only two shots throughout the entire match, with just one testing the Moroccan keeper.

In contrast, Morocco was the more aggressive side, peppering the Nigerian goal with 16 shots. However, clinical finishing remained elusive. Stanley Nwabali, the Nigerian goalkeeper, was forced into five saves to keep his side alive through regulation and a tense extra-time period.

The match grew increasingly physical as the night wore on. Nigeria committed 29 fouls, a testament to their desperate efforts to disrupt the Moroccan rhythm, while two yellow cards further illustrated the pressure on the West African side.

As the clock ticked past the 120-minute mark without a goal, the weight of expectation shifted to the penalty spot. In the shootout, Morocco’s composure shone. The Atlas Lions converted four of their attempts, while Nigeria faltered, seeing two of their spot-kicks fail to find the net.

For Morocco, the win keeps the dream of a second continental title—and their first since 1976—very much alive on home soil. They now prepare for a Sunday showdown with Senegal, who defeated Egypt in the other semifinal.

For Nigeria, the defeat marks a disappointing end to a campaign that had promised much. While their defensive organization held firm for two hours, the lack of creative spark in the final third ultimately proved to be their undoing.