Morocco’s fortress held firm again on Wednesday night as the Atlas Lions edged Nigeria on penalties to reach the AFCON 2025 final. After 120 goalless minutes, the hosts prevailed 4-2 in a tense shootout.
It was another statement of Morocco’s dominance on home soil. Their unbeaten run now stretches to 26 matches, dating back to their AFCON 2023 exit.
Inside the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, belief crackled through the stands as fans sensed destiny, knowing this was only Morocco’s second AFCON final appearance since 2004.
The kingdom has waited decades for this moment and victory on Sunday would crown years of deliberate football investment and national ambition.
Nigeria arrived battle-tested and composed, refusing to be overwhelmed early. Eric Chelle’s side absorbed pressure and disrupted Morocco’s rhythm intelligently. Calvin Bassey anchored that resistance with authority and composure. The Fulham defender won duels, read danger early, marshalled the back line superbly, and was by far Nigeria’s best player on the night.
His first-half booking felt harsh and threatened suspension fears. Still, Bassey never retreated as he embodied Nigeria’s defensive discipline throughout the contest.
Morocco pressed with intent. Brahim Diaz curled wide early, while Stanley Nwabali denied Ismael Saibari smartly. Captain Achraf Hakimi probed relentlessly from wide areas. However, Nigeria’s compact shape repeatedly closed lanes near goal.
After halftime, opportunities became even scarcer. That scarcity fuelled loud penalty appeals when Hakimi’s effort struck Bassey’s arm. VAR reviewed the incident calmly and declined intervention. The ball had glanced off another defender and Bassey’s body first.
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Penalties, pressure, and a nation’s dream
Extra time followed a familiar script, dominated territorially by Morocco. Yet Nigeria’s structure held firm and that forced hopeful deliveries and blocked efforts.
Youssef En-Nesyri nearly crowned himself hero before penalties. His movement unsettled defenders, though the decisive moment still awaited him.
The shootout brought silence, then eruption. En-Nesyri stepped forward confidently and drilled the winning penalty beyond Nwabali. As the net rippled, the Moroccan bench emptied instantly. Flags twirled and songs roared.
It was Morocco’s fifth clean sheet of the tournament and that showed their defensive steel which has also complemented their technical quality.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles of Nigeria suffered a cruel and familiar heartbreak. It was a fifth consecutive AFCON defeat against Morocco. Their fourth continental title dream ended late again. Pain echoed memories of the Ivory Coast final loss two years earlier.
Penalty sorrow also resurfaced from November’s World Cup playoff defeat against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Once more, margins refused to fall their way.
Walid Regragui now carries immense expectation into Sunday. Few coaches have felt such national pressure before an AFCON final. History beckons loudly for the north Africans, as only fourteen previous host nations have reached an AFCON final.
Standing in their path are Senegal’s Lions of Teranga. The former champions defeated Egypt 1-0 in the first semifinal. Sadio Mane’s powerful strike settled that contest decisively.
Morocco will be seeking to win a first continental title in 50 years. The last time they won the AFCON was 1976. None of the players, not even the coach Regragui, was born as at that time. Will Senegal silence the Moroccans at their backyard to win a second AFCON title in five years? Time will tell.
Tags: Senegal, Nigeria, Super Eagles, Morocco, #MARNGA, #NGAMAR, #AFCON2025, #SoarSuperEagles, Atlas Lions, Achraf Hakimi, Calvin Bassey, Lions of Teranga, Walid Regragui, Youssef En-Nesyri, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
