Hosts Morocco triumphed over Nigeria in a tense Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final on Wednesday, securing a 4-2 victory in a penalty shoot-out after the match concluded goalless following extra time. This win propels Morocco into the final, where they will face Senegal this weekend, vying for their first AFCON title in 50 years.

Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as the undisputed hero for Morocco, making crucial saves from Nigeria's Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi during the shoot-out. The decisive moment arrived when Youssef En-Nesyri calmly converted the winning kick, sparking an eruption of jubilation among the 65,458 strong crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Despite missing his own penalty, Hamza Igamane found relief in his team's success, while captain Achraf Hakimi was among those who successfully converted their kicks.

Morocco's path to the final marks a significant moment for the nation, which has been under immense pressure to deliver an AFCON title, their last coming in 1976. Coach Walid Regragui, who played in the 2004 final when Morocco lost to Tunisia, praised his team's resilience, stating, "It was one of the hardest matches we have had against a very solid and talented team. I am very happy for the players and for the Moroccan people who really deserve this. It is a great gift for them to be in the final but we will need to recover quickly because we put a lot of energy into this game." The team, semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup, demonstrated their ability to handle the pressure of playing at home, silencing earlier doubts from the group stage where they were at times whistled by their own fans.

For Nigeria, it was an agonizing end to their AFCON aspirations. Despite being considered arguably the best team at the tournament prior to the semi-finals, and leading scorers with 14 goals, led by stars like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, they struggled to create opportunities, managing only two shots in 120 minutes, with just one on target. Coach Eric Chelle expressed his disappointment, saying, "The players fought for every ball and it is difficult to lose on penalties, but this is football and we have to accept it. It is difficult to play here in Morocco because you have to play against the team and against the crowd." Chelle's decision to withdraw Osimhen just minutes before the shoot-out proved controversial, especially after substitute Chukwueze had his penalty saved. Nigeria will now contest the third-place play-off against Egypt in Casablanca, two years after losing the final to the hosts in Ivory Coast, and must reconcile with their failure to qualify for the World Cup.

The match itself was a cagey affair. A frenetic opening saw Moroccan winger Brahim Diaz curl a shot wide, while Alex Iwobi teed up Lookman for a shot that was well saved. Morocco also had chances, including a free-kick from Hakimi and a shot from Ismael Saibari saved by Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. As the second half progressed, the spectre of penalties loomed large, with Nigeria seemingly settling for a shoot-out, hoping to replicate their 2024 semi-final win against South Africa. However, Morocco, known for their penalty triumph against Spain at the last World Cup, once again proved their mettle.

In the other semi-final, Senegal, champions four years ago, defeated Mohamed Salah's Egypt 1-0 earlier in Tangiers, courtesy of a Sadio Mane goal. The upcoming final between Morocco and Senegal promises to be a clash of titans, featuring the top two African sides in the FIFA world rankings, as Morocco aims to secure a long-awaited continental title.