Morocco Beat Nigeria on Penalties to Reach AFCON Final Against Senegal

 Morocco Beat Nigeria on Penalties to Reach AFCON Final Against Senegal

Morocco’s Youssef En-Nesyri and teammates celebrate after winning the match in the penalty shootout/ Reuters

Morocco’s national football team has advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations final after defeating Nigeria in a penalty shootout following a goalless semifinal match, officials and match reports said on Wednesday.

The tightly contested game in Abidjan remained scoreless after regulation and extra time, forcing a penalty shootout in which Morocco prevailed by converting more of their attempts. The result sets up a showdown with Senegal, who secured victory in the other semi on Tuesday.

Morocco’s progress to the final marks a continuation of their strong run in the tournament, which has been characterised by disciplined defending and tactical resilience throughout the knockout stages. Nigeria, the Super Eagles, had earlier navigated past opponents to reach the last four but were unable to breach Morocco’s defence on the night.

Both teams showed moments of attacking promise but were ultimately neutralised in open play, with goalkeeping and organisational structure deciding the outcome. Morocco’s coach praised his players for their composure under pressure during the penalty phase.

The final is scheduled to take place on Sunday, with both sides aiming to claim the prestigious continental title and cap off their respective campaigns.

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Otaria Benjamin

As a Broadcast Journalist, Otaria hones the power of voice, narrative, and audience engagement. These skills now enrich her leadership in tech, AI and social spaces, enabling her to communicate complex ideas simply and drive community-centric innovation.

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