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Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations were dashed on Wednesday night after the Super Eagles fell 4–2 on penalties to Morocco in a tense semi-final showdown.
The highly anticipated encounter lived up to its billing in terms of intensity but lacked goals, as both teams adopted cautious approaches that limited attacking freedom. Nigeria, who had impressed in earlier rounds of the tournament, found it difficult to break down a disciplined Moroccan defence and struggled to create clear scoring chances despite enjoying spells of possession.
Morocco, buoyed by home support, also had moments where they threatened, but the Super Eagles’ backline remained resolute, ensuring the game stayed scoreless at the end of regulation time. After 90 minutes of hard-fought football, neither side managed to find the breakthrough, sending the semi-final into extra time.
The additional 30 minutes followed a similar pattern, with fatigue beginning to set in and both teams appearing wary of conceding a costly mistake. Chances remained few and far between, and goalkeepers on both ends were rarely called into serious action. As the final whistle of extra time blew, the deadlock remained unbroken, setting the stage for a dramatic penalty shootout to determine the second finalist.
In the shootout, Morocco held their nerve under pressure, converting all four of their spot-kicks with confidence. Nigeria, however, were less clinical. Samuel Chukwueze saw his effort fail to hit the target, while Bruno Onyemachi also missed, leaving the Super Eagles with too much ground to recover. The Atlas Lions capitalised fully, sealing a 4–2 victory on penalties and sparking celebrations among the home fans.
Despite the disappointment, Nigeria’s performance throughout the tournament has highlighted both resilience and areas needing improvement, particularly in attack. The inability to convert limited chances proved costly in a match where margins were extremely fine.
With the semi-final loss now behind them, the Super Eagles will turn their attention to the third-place playoff, where they are set to face Egypt. The encounter presents an opportunity for Nigeria to end their AFCON campaign on a positive note and claim a podium finish.
For Morocco, the victory marks a significant step forward as they advance to the final, where they will face reigning champions Senegal in what promises to be a thrilling contest. The Atlas Lions will be aiming to crown their impressive tournament run with silverware, while Senegal will look to defend their title.
As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations approaches its climax, the focus now shifts to the final showdown and the battle for third place, with Nigeria hoping to regroup quickly after a heartbreaking exit from the title race.
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