By Naomi Jeremiah

Nigeria’s Super Eagles saw their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign come to an end on Wednesday night after a tense semifinal defeat to host nation Morocco, who secured a place in the final with a 4–2 victory in a penalty shootout in Rabat.

After 120 minutes of goalless football at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, the match was decided from the spot, with Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerging as the hero. Bounou saved two Nigerian penalties before Youssef En-Nesyri converted the decisive kick to send the Atlas Lions into the final.

The defeat extended Nigeria’s long-standing difficulty against host nations in AFCON knockout matches. Despite hopes of breaking the trend in Rabat, the Super Eagles once again fell short, echoing past losses to hosts at Algiers 1990, Tunisia 2004, Ghana 2008 and Côte d’Ivoire 2023.

The semifinal itself was a cagey, low-scoring affair. Morocco enjoyed more possession and created the clearer chances, but were repeatedly denied by Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who delivered an outstanding performance to keep the contest level. Nigeria, who entered the match as one of the tournament’s top-scoring sides, struggled to find rhythm in attack and created few clear opportunities.

Victor Osimhen had Nigeria’s best moment in the second half of extra time, but a heavy touch inside the box allowed the chance to slip away. Morocco, meanwhile, threatened through Ayoub El Kaabi and Ismael Saibari, though their efforts failed to break the deadlock in open play.

The match ultimately hinged on penalties, where Nigeria’s shootout woes resurfaced. Misses by Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi proved costly, handing Morocco the edge and a place in Sunday’s final.

Morocco, chasing a first AFCON title in 50 years, will now face Senegal in the final, while the Super Eagles turn their attention to the third-place playoff against Egypt. Despite the disappointment, Nigeria’s run to the semifinals highlighted resilience and strong individual performances, offering positives to build on beyond the tournament.