Nigeria's Super Eagles suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the semifinal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, ending their quest for a fourth continental title. The intense match, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, concluded goalless after 120 minutes of disciplined play, with Morocco holding a slight edge in possession and chances. The stadium's 68,000 fans created a fierce atmosphere as two of the tournament's most compelling sides battled for a place in the final.

Going into the semifinal, Nigeria boasted a perfect record with five wins from five matches and 14 goals scored, including a dominant 2-0 quarter-final victory over Algeria. Their formidable attack was set against Morocco's defensively supreme team, which had conceded only one goal throughout the tournament, none from open play, and was unbeaten in 22 games across all competitions. Key lineup adjustments saw Raphael Onyedika replace the suspended captain Wilfred Ndidi for Nigeria, while Morocco welcomed back Achraf Hakimi, despite missing Azzedine Ounahi.

The game itself was a tense affair, characterized by robust defending from both sides. Nigeria's goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, was a standout performer, making several crucial saves throughout the 120 minutes to keep his team in contention. Early in the game, Semi Ajayi had a scare when he inadvertently pinged a pass to Ismael Saibari, but he recovered swiftly. Ademola Lookman had Nigeria's only attempt on target in the first half, forcing a low save from Morocco's Yassine Bounou. Chances remained scarce, with Akor Adams failing to connect cleanly and Victor Osimhen struggling to find space against a tight Moroccan defense. A contentious yellow card for Calvin Bassey, deemed an abysmal foul call by many, further highlighted the perceived poor refereeing by Ghana's Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea.

With the deadlock unbroken after extra time, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout. Despite Nwabali's heroics, who saved Hamza Igamane's kick, Nigeria ultimately faltered. Crucial misses from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi sealed the Super Eagles' fate, leading to a 4-2 shootout loss and sending Morocco to the final. Nigeria will now contest the third-place playoff against Egypt.

Individual performances for Nigeria drew mixed reviews. Stanley Nwabali earned a 7.5/10 for his busy and effective game, making five saves and showing good understanding with his defenders, though his ball distribution was at times questionable. Calvin Bassey was deemed Nigeria's best player with an 8/10 rating, delivering a colossal performance. He was practically unplayable, winning every duel, making 10 clearances, and maintaining an 86% pass accuracy without being dribbled past. Semi Ajayi (7.3/10) had a decent, rock-solid game, connecting well with Bassey. Bruno Onyemaechi (7.7/10) and Bright Osayi-Samuel (7.4/10) were praised for their solid defensive efforts on the flanks, effectively nullifying threats like Brahim Diaz, Achraf Hakimi, and Abde Ezzalzouli, despite Onyemaechi's penalty miss.

However, some attacking and midfield players struggled. Raphael Onyedika (6.3/10), filling in for Ndidi, did not fully seize his opportunity, getting caught on the ball and dispossessed a couple of times. Frank Onyeka (6.9/10) covered ground tirelessly but exhibited suspect passing. Alex Iwobi (6.6/10) found it difficult to impact the game creatively, as Morocco's strategy effectively shut down his passing outlets. Ademola Lookman (6.2/10) and Akor Adams (5.9/10) were largely ineffective, losing possession too often and failing to make a significant impact. Victor Osimhen (6.3/10) had an incredible work rate but was constantly closed down.

Coach Eric Chelle's in-game management was also scrutinized. While credited for changing the Super Eagles' pattern of play and establishing a clear philosophy, his inability to adjust to Morocco's strategy of neutralizing Iwobi was highlighted. Nigeria played deep for 90 minutes with only one chance on goal, and Chelle made no substitutions to alter the approach. This perceived ineptitude in in-game decisions resurfaced after Nigeria's earlier failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a penalty shootout loss to DR Congo. Furthermore, the refereeing performance was heavily criticized, with numerous abysmal foul calls going against Nigeria, including the controversial yellow card for Bassey.

Samuel Chukwueze's penalty miss was particularly noted for its bizarre execution. Facing Yassine Bounou, a renowned penalty-stopping goalkeeper, Chukwueze took a tame penalty with poor body language, which was easily saved. This miss, alongside Onyemaechi's, underscored the thin margins that ultimately cost Nigeria a spot in the AFCON 2025 final.