Key Takeaways:
- Morocco secured a 4:2 win on penalties against Nigeria following a goalless 120 minutes to progress to the Africa Cup of Nations final
- Nigeria suffered their first defeat of the tournament, having previously won every fixture, including victories over Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Mozambique, and Algeria
- Morocco will contest the final against Senegal, with Egypt and Nigeria set to meet for third place
Semi-Final Showdown in Rabat
Morocco advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations final after edging Nigeria 4:2 on penalties at the Moula Abdallah Stadium in Rabat. The score remained 0:0 after 120 minutes of football, forcing the match to be decided from the spot. For the Nigerian side, this result marked their first loss of the tournament, ending a flawless run that had seen them prevail in every previous match. Their path to the semi-finals had included group victories over Tanzania (2:1), Tunisia (3:2), and Uganda (3:1), as well as emphatic knockout wins against Mozambique (4:0) and Algeria (2:0).
🚨🏆 AFCON Final: Morocco vs Senegal!
Nigeria have been eliminated by Morocco. pic.twitter.com/QwdTjRTm9L
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 14, 2026
Morocco’s Consistent Progression
As tournament hosts, Morocco maintained an unbeaten record en route to the final, though their group stage victories were more restrained. They drew 1:1 with Mali but topped Group “A” with wins over the Comoros Islands (2:0) and Zambia (3:0). In the knockout stages, the Moroccans saw off Tanzania (1:0) and Cameroon (2:0), positioning themselves just one step away from lifting the coveted trophy on home soil.
Chance Creation and the Penalty Drama
Although the game ended goalless, spectators witnessed a lively affair with 18 total goal-scoring opportunities. Both sides struggled for composure in front of goal, producing only six shots on target – five of which were for Morocco, with Yassine Bono called into action just once.
The outcome was ultimately decided by penalties, where Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bono emerged as the standout performer. Bono’s key saves limited Nigeria to just two converted penalties, scored by Paul Onuachu and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, both of whom had come off the bench. Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi were unsuccessful with their efforts for Nigeria. For the hosts, Hamza Igаmane failed to convert, but teammates Neil El Aynaoui, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Achraf Hakimi, and Youssef En-Nesyri all held their nerve to see Morocco through to the final.
Looking Ahead to the Final Weekend
The highly anticipated final will see Morocco face Senegal, with Sadio Mané’s side having eliminated Egypt and Mohamed Salah earlier in the evening. The decisive match takes place next weekend on January 18 (Sunday). Meanwhile, Egypt and Nigeria will battle for third place the previous day.
