In a nail-biting semifinal at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Nigeria fell 4-2 on penalties to Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

In a game billed as a classic, the match fell short of expectations and it soon became apparent that penalties would be needed to determine the winner.

Youssef En-Nesyri converted his side's fifth penalty kick to put the Atlas Lions through to the final.

Veteran goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero of the shootout, making two big saves  to deny Bruno Onyemaechi and Samuel Chukwueze from finding the back of the net.

Onyemaechi’s penalty was so poor that Bounou initially went the wrong way but still had time to recover and make the save.

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, who scored in the penalty shootout, hailed the resilience of the Super Eagles following the hard-fought win. 

Speaking to French broadcaster beIN Sports, Hakimi said: "We are extremely happy and proud. There are no words to describe this exceptional moment. The team and all Moroccans deserve it. The mission is not yet over. There is the final."

Reflecting on the challenge posed by Nigeria, Hakimi emphasised the team's collective effort.

"We knew how strong the Nigerian team was. We put in an incredible performance. We were solid defensively and didn't allow them to create any opportunities. We maintained our focus and mental strength throughout the match."

Morocco will do battle with Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations showpiece on Sunday, a day before the Super Eagles meet Egypt in the third place playoff.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel