Morocco Ousts Nigeria on Penalties to Advance to AFCON Final: An Epic Match Awaits

Morocco Ousts Nigeria on Penalties to Advance to AFCON Final: An Epic Match Awaits

History makers Morocco reached the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final for the first time since 2004 as Hakim Ziyech's last-gasp finish ensured a thrilling clash with Nigeria was settled by a penalty shootout. They matched their guests in extra time before seeing off Nigeria 4-2 on penalties to reach the final. The contest, at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, was ultimately one of frustration and tension with chances missed all over the place and a penalty shootout that could hardly have been more tense.

A Game of Few Chances

The game started at a slow pace, with both sides failing to create clear openings in the opening minutes. In front of their home crowd, Morocco enjoyed the bulk of possession but found it difficult to unlock Nigeria’s defense. The first half an hour was pretty uneventful too, both sides playing it cautiously and both keepers remaining untested.

The best chance of the game arrived in the 30th minute, when Achraf Hakimi of Morocco put an inswinging corner into the penalty area. Ayoub El Kaabi was five yards from goal with a chance that could have seen Morocco lead, but could not quite get his shot away in time and Nigeria cleared. It was a lost chance, one of many over the match for either team.

Morocco still came close, Ismael Saibari demonstrating a bit of quick feet to force a shooting opportunity. But Nigeria’s goalie, Stanley Nwabali, came fully to the task and caught the ball in his hand. Nwabali emphatically made his presence felt the busier of the two goalies during the game, with Morocco’s long range shot hardly troubling him.

By contrast, Nigeria posed little threat going forward. Their leading goal scorer in the tournament, Victor Osimhen, was largely ineffective. In one of Nigeria’s few moments, Osimhen was slipped through in the box but his first touch let him down and the opportunity disappeared. Morocco’s defense, including that of Nayef Aguerd, was solid for much of the match in repelling Nigeria.

Morocco went close to breaking the deadlock just before halftime when Aguerd headed over from a corner, the ball bouncing off an upright. It was a close call, and the match felt headed to penalties long before 90 minutes were up.

Extra Time: A Nerve-Wracking Battle

As the game headed into overtime, each team looked like it had resigned itself to going to penalties. The extra 30 minutes brought little in the way of attacking intent, as both sides looked tired and wary. Morocco still controlled the ball, but had no way of breaking through Nigeria's defence. Nigeria, in turn, offered little attacking threat and were hampered by an injury suffered by Osimhen – who was carried off the field – when they needed him most.

Both sides had tried their luck from distance and with hopeful crosses, but there had been no clear scoring chances at either end. The game became penalties with the match at 0-0.

The Penalty Shootout Drama

The stage was now set for a thrilling shootout where even the smallest error could have proved decisive. Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who had been steady all game, was the shootout hero as he made two penalty saves to guide his team to victory.

Nigeria’s first penalty taker, Samuel Chukwueze, took responsibility for the kick, but Bounou read the shot and made a save. It found a huge moment for Morocco, which now held the advantage. Nigeria’s Bruno Onyemaechi went next after Chukwueze but his spot-kick was saved by Bounou once more as Morocco took control.

Morocco’s Hamza Igamane had the opportunity to give his side the advantage in the shootout, however, Nwabali made his first stop of the shootout by denying Igamane. Meaning this happened for nothing as Morocco were ice cool, burying all their spotkicks.

The first four penalties left the score level at 2-2 and only one kick remained. Morocco’s leading scorer, Youssef En Nesyri, stepped up to take Morocco’s fifth penalty. Nerves of steel, placed it coolly past Nwabali to secure a 4-2 win for Morocco and sent an already delirious home crowd into sheer euphoria. Morocco’s players and fans marked the occasion wildly, knowing they were now just one game away from its first continental title in 50 years.

Nigeria’s Struggles and Osimhen's Absence

Nigeria had the bitterness of their penalty shootout defeat compounded by the absence of Victor Osimhen, their star forward. The Napoli forward, so good throughout this tournament, was subbed off right before the shootout with an injury. His absence was a body blow to Nigeria’s hopes as without him they didn’t possess the attacking firepower needed to find a way through the tangle of limbs and legs that Morocco threw at them in both normal time and extra-time.

Osimhen had been out of sorts all night. He was an angry man, and his chances wasted epitomised Nigeria’s attacking woes. The tournament’s leading scorers heading into the semi-final failed to crack Morocco’s defense and really did not create many chances.

Nigeria’s Nwabali had a good penalty battle, as he saved Hamza Igamane’s kick but the keeper couldn’t be conceded because of the early two misses from Chukwueze and Onyemaechi. For the loss, Nigeria takes on Egypt in the third-place play off while Morocco eyes a historic final.

A Historic Final Awaits

The win sends Morocco to their first AFCON final since falling to Tunisia in 2004. The North African country will now meet Senegal in what should be an intriguing final. Senegal, including their talismanic captain Sadio Mané, have been one of the standout teams in the tournament and this final promises to be a collision of two footballing behemoths.

With victory over Nigeria, the win against Nigeria is a giant leap for Morocco in AFCON. Now the hosts, one win away from their first continental title in 50 years and with a whole nation behind them, really do believe it is coming home. Both teams look ravenous and the final on Sunday will be a spectacle.

For Nigeria, the defeat to Morocco sees their tournament come to an end but they will want to put on a show in the third-place play-off. Although the Super Eagles were below par in their last four game, they have on several other occasions showed that they had abundance of talent and will look to re-ignite old flames against Egypt.

The semi-final match between Morocco and Nigeria will in future be referred to as one of AFCON’s most dramatic and nervy games ever. The spot in the final was then opened for Morocco after a penalty shootout win, shaping a historic meeting with Senegal. Appearances: 17 Best finish: Champions (1970) During swathes of the year's edition Morocco have been the team scoring the most goals Senegal's record: Appearances: 14 Best finish: Runners-up (2002) -AFP Returnees The last time either of these teams were in an AFCON final things went pretty well for both sides. It is still all to play for and fans of the beautiful game across Africa are looking forward with bated breath for what promises to be an intriguing clash.