Morocco are one win away from ending their 50 year wait for Africa Cup of Nations glory after a nail biting penalty shootout victory over Nigeria in Rabat. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero, saving two spot kicks before Youssef En Nesyri slammed home the winner to seal a 4-2 shootout triumph following a tense 0-0 draw.
The 120 minutes of normal and extra time was a grim, cagey affair desperately short on quality. Morocco, backed by a fervent home crowd, created the better of what few chances there was. Nigeria keeper Stanley Nwabali had to be sharp to deny Ismael Saibari, while Nayef Aguerd saw a header cannon off the post. For a side with the tournament’s best attacking record coming in, Nigeria offered a limp display, with star man Victor Osimhen starved of service and uncharacteristically clumsy when a rare half chance came his way.
When it went to penalties, Bounou’s big game experience told. The Sevilla stopper plunged to his left to keep out Samuel Chukwueze’s effort and then repeated the feat to deny Bruno Onyemaechi. It left En Nesyri with the job of sending the Atlas Lions through, and he made no mistake, firing high past Nwabali to spark bedlam at the Stade de Rabat.
“We played against a very good team, which had scored 14 goals before today,” said Morocco boss Walid Regragui. “They had only two shots against us. It tells you something.” His opposite number, Eric Chelle, cut a frustrated figure. “We struggled to play our game today,” he admitted. “I don’t want to say we were tired, but it was tough. We couldn’t find solutions.”
The win books Morocco a date with the reigning champions, Senegal, in Sunday’s final back in Rabat. It’s a daunting task against a Sadio Mane inspired side who saw off Egypt earlier on Wednesday. For Nigeria, they must pick themselves up for a third place playoff against the Pharaohs on Saturday, a match that will feel like an afterthought after this crushing exit.
So the dream lives on for the hosts. They’ve been workmanlike rather than wonderful all tournament, but they’ve found a way. Now, the biggest challenge of the lot awaits: toppling the champions on their own patch and writing their name into history.
