Morocco booked a first Africa Cup of Nations final since 2004 after defeating Nigeria 4-2 on penalties, following a tense 0-0 draw. Yassine Bounou saved two spot-kicks, while Youssef En-Nesyri struck the decisive effort to secure a meeting with Senegal in Sunday’s showpiece, confirming the host nation’s place in the 2025 AFCON title match.
The victory also arrived with extra meaning for Morocco, who had never previously progressed via a penalty shoot-out at AFCON. After earlier failures in 1988 and 2019, the team finally ended that run. The result continues a recent trend of host countries reaching the Africa Cup of Nations final, after Ivory Coast did the same at the 2023 tournament.
Neither side managed to control the match in the final third,
with clear openings rare throughout. Morocco produced 16 attempts, generating an expected goals figure of 0.8 and hitting the target five times. Nigeria created almost nothing in attack, recording just two shots in total and an xG of 0.05, the team’s lowest value in any AFCON match since Opta records began in 2010.
Those numbers highlighted how cautious the semi-final became, with both defences largely in command. Morocco carried more threat but still struggled to create clear chances against a compact Nigerian shape. The game drifted towards extra time with tension growing among the crowd, as every rare attempt on goal felt increasingly important in such a tight encounter.
| Team | Shots | Shots on target | Expected goals (xG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | 16 | 5 | 0.8 |
| Nigeria | 2 | 0 | 0.05 |
The first real threat arrived in the 14th minute when Ademola Lookman forced Yassine Bounou into action, the Morocco goalkeeper pushing away a firm strike. That opportunity briefly lifted Nigeria, but rhythm soon faded again. Morocco then enjoyed more possession, yet Stanley Nwabali remained mostly untested until Ismael Saibari’s shot just before the interval.
After half-time, Morocco continued to press without finding many clear openings. Seven minutes into the second period, Abde Ezzalzouli cut in and shot low, but Nwabali reacted sharply, diving left to parry. Nigeria struggled to respond at the other end, creating almost nothing from open play and often conceding territory as Morocco camped higher up the pitch.
Morocco vs Nigeria AFCON semi-final extra time and woodwork drama
Extra time brought a brief surge from Morocco. Early in the additional period, Achraf Hakimi delivered a corner to the far post, where Nayef Aguerd rose highest but directed a powerful header against the frame of the goal. That near miss underlined how close Morocco came to settling the contest without needing penalties.
As players tired, spaces opened slightly, and Morocco pushed harder for a breakthrough. Late in the second period of extra time, Neil El Aynaoui connected with a fierce volley from outside the area. The strike forced another difficult save, yet the deadlock held. With neither team able to convert limited opportunities, the semi-final moved into a decisive shoot-out.
Morocco vs Nigeria AFCON semi-final penalty shoot-out drama
The shoot-out started calmly, with both nations converting their first penalties. Morocco then slipped when Hamza Igamane saw a spot-kick saved by Stanley Nwabali, appearing to hand momentum to Nigeria. However, Samuel Chukwueze failed to punish the error, as Yassine Bounou guessed correctly and blocked a tame effort directed to the left.
The next three penalties were all converted, keeping pressure on the remaining takers and heightening tension around the stadium. Bruno Onyemaechi then stepped up for Nigeria but watched Bounou foil the attempt in unusual fashion, with the goalkeeper moving far to the left before saving. That stop allowed Youssef En-Nesyri to score calmly and send Morocco through to Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal.
Morocco’s 4-2 shoot-out success ended a long-standing penalty issue at AFCON, after losses to Algeria in 1988 and Benin in 2019. It also ensured the host nation reached the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, following Ivory Coast’s similar achievement in 2023, and set up a chance for Morocco to chase a long-awaited continental title against Senegal.
