Nigeria’s dream of lifting a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title came to a painful end on Wednesday night after the Super Eagles lost 4-2 on penalties to hosts Morocco in their semi-final clash at the Stade Moulay Abdellah.
The contest finished goalless after 120 minutes of tense, attritional football that tested both sides physically and mentally. Backed by a vociferous home crowd, Morocco enjoyed more of the ball and territory, especially in the second half, but repeatedly ran into a Nigerian defence that refused to bend.
The Super Eagles soaked up pressure for long spells, with Calvin Bassey at the heart of a rearguard effort that kept the Atlas Lions at bay.
Morocco created their best chances after the break through Ayoub El Kaabi, and Hamza Igamane, yet they found no way past Stanley Nwabali or the bodies thrown in front of goal by Nigeria’s defenders. Extra time followed a similar pattern, and when neither side could find a breakthrough, penalties became inevitable.
Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi failed to convert their spot kicks as Morocco calmly dispatched all four of theirs to book a place in Sunday’s final against Senegal, who earlier edged Egypt 1-0 in the other semi-final.
After the final whistle, Footy-Africa spoke with former Nigeria international Mohammed Gambo, who identified the Super Eagles’ standout performers and those who struggled to make an impact on a demanding night.
AFCON 2025: Morocco edge Nigeria on penalties to reach home final
Best performers
Calvin Bassey (9.0)
A performance that will live long in the memory. Booked early on, Bassey responded with a masterclass in defending. He read danger superbly, matched Morocco’s forwards stride for stride and recovered impressively whenever he was stretched.
His interceptions, blocks and clearances arrived at crucial moments, denying Morocco the space they craved. It was a dominant display that underlined his growing stature on the continental stage.
Bright Osayi-Samuel (8.0)
Relentless from start to finish, Bright Osayi-Samuel produced a tireless showing down the right flank. Defensively aggressive and offensively brave, he won his duels and stood firm against Abde Ezzalzouli.
His forward runs added an extra dimension to Nigeria’s play, even if they were not fully capitalized upon. One of Nigeria’s most consistent performers on the night.
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Stanley Nwabali (8.0)
Under pressure for much of the game, Stanley Nwabali delivered when it mattered. He commanded his area well, judged crosses confidently and made several important stops to frustrate Morocco.
Though penalties ultimately decided the outcome, his composure and shot-stopping in open play highlighted his comfort in high-pressure situations.
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Worst performers
Ademola Lookman (6.0)
A quiet outing for one of Nigeria’s brightest sparks at the tournament. Ademola Lookman tested Yassine Bounou once but was largely subdued, closely marked by Neil El Aynaoui and Bilal El Khannouss.
Space was limited and he never truly found his rhythm.
Semi Ajayi (6.0)
A shaky start set the tone for Semi Ajayi’s evening. Early giveaways invited pressure and, although he recovered to make several clearances, the unease lingered throughout his performance.
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Samuel Chukwueze (5.0)
Introduced with penalties in mind, Samuel Chukwueze failed to deliver. His effort from the spot was tame and lacked conviction, a disappointing end to a brief and ineffective cameo.
Nigeria exit the tournament with pride intact, but with the bitter feeling of being just one kick away from another AFCON final.
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇳🇬(2)0–0(4)🇲🇦
Morocco win it on penalties. Marching to the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 final. pic.twitter.com/f1PLZTQmV6
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 15, 2026
