Morocco is on the cusp of ending a five-decade wait for an Africa Cup of Nations title after a gripping semi-final where they edged Nigeria 4-2 in a penalty shootout, following a 0-0 draw through extra time. The electrifying atmosphere at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with 65,458 fans passionately cheering, added to the tension of the match.
Yassine Bounou emerged as the star, making two pivotal saves during the penalty shootout. His composed demeanor and quick reflexes under pressure were crucial, enabling Morocco to secure a spot in Sunday's final against Senegal.
The match was characterized by its physicality, with both sides struggling to carve out clear scoring opportunities over 120 minutes. Nigeria, often seen as a strong offensive team, had difficulty penetrating Morocco's solid defense, while the hosts faced a similar challenge against Nigeria's organized back line.
When it came to penalties, Morocco gained an early lead after Bounou saved Nigeria's opener taken by Samuel Chukwueze, prompting wild celebrations from the home crowd. In response, Nigeria's Stanley Nwabali saved a shot from Hamza Igamane, which brought a momentary shift in momentum and left the Moroccan player visibly upset.
Bounou struck again, brilliantly stopping a shot from Bruno Onyemaechi. Once back in charge, Youssef En-Nesyri confidently netted the decisive penalty, igniting jubilant festivities throughout the stadium. The penalty shootout saw Moroccan players maintain their composure, with Igamane's miss being the sole downside.
Coach Walid Regragui praised his team after the match, calling it one of their toughest tests in the tournament. He expressed joy for both the players and the Moroccan supporters, who truly merited seeing their team reach the final. Regragui acknowledged that the squad would need to recover swiftly after expending so much energy for this match.
The pressure on Morocco has been significant throughout the tournament, with fans eagerly anticipating the chance to lift the trophy for the first time since 1976. Competing at home has heightened expectations, yet the team has grown increasingly confident, particularly following their impressive quarter-final victory against Cameroon.
In the final, Morocco will clash with Senegal, who triumphed over Egypt 1-0 in the other semi-final thanks to a goal from Sadio Mané. This match features the two top-ranked African teams according to FIFA, ensuring a highly competitive showdown.
For Nigeria, the defeat was painful. Just two years after losing in the final to the hosts in Ivory Coast, the Super Eagles aimed to secure their fourth Africa Cup of Nations title to equal rivals Ghana. With star players like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman leading the charge, Nigeria finished the tournament as the top scorers with 14 goals and were considered one of the strongest contenders.
However, they struggled to generate meaningful opportunities in Rabat and seemed to accept the inevitability of penalties as extra time dragged on, even substituting Osimhen late in the game. Coach Eric Chelle commended his players for their hard fight but acknowledged the challenges posed by facing Morocco and their fervent supporters.
The electrifying atmosphere in the stadium played a significant role, with Moroccan fans responding enthusiastically to every Nigerian possession. Earlier critiques from supporters during the group stage were replaced by overwhelming support on this night, significantly lifting the team through tough moments.
The early phases of the match were energetic, with Morocco's Brahim Díaz narrowly missing with a curled effort, while Nigeria's Ademola Lookman saw his well-taken shot saved by Bounou. Morocco later posed a threat via a Hakimi free-kick and an effort from Ismael Saibari, but Nwabali was resolute. As the game progressed, both teams adopted a cautious approach, making penalties seem more likely.
Morocco's experience in shoot-outs, highlighted by their previous World Cup triumph over Spain in 2022, proved critical once again. With confidence soaring and the final now within reach, Morocco's dream of lifting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy at home remains alive, while Nigeria shifts focus to the third-place playoff against Egypt.
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