Morocco’s Atlas Lions have roared back into an AFCON final for the first time since 2004, prevailing on penalties after a cagey, goalless 120 minutes against a subdued Nigeria at a packed Stade Ibn Batouta. The hosts, heavy favourites and Africa’s top-ranked side, survived a tactical chess match and then relied on goalkeeper Bono’s heroics to book a date with Senegal in the final.
A tense, tactical battle
Expectations were sky-high for a clash between two continental heavyweights, but the match unfolded as a study in caution rather than flair. Both teams prioritized defensive structure, trading possession and probing without ever truly committing to the kind of attacking gamble that produces goals. Morocco looked the more fluid side, but Nigeria’s compact defending and disciplined shape kept clear openings at bay. For long stretches the game felt like a final before the final — tight, tactical and low on clear-cut chances.
Few chances, fine margins
The first half offered little to excite neutrals. Morocco’s Diaz tested the frame early, and Hakimi curled a free kick narrowly wide, while Nigeria’s best early moment saw Lookman’s effort comfortably held by Bono. The second half continued in the same vein: Morocco nudged forward, Nigeria absorbed and countered, but neither side could fashion a decisive moment. Substitutions and late surges failed to change the script, and the scoreboard remained stubbornly blank as the match trudged into extra time.
Extra time and the march to penalties
Extra time produced a single heart‑stopping moment when Aguerd’s flick from a Hakimi corner clipped the outside of the post, a near‑miss that summed up the evening — inches away from drama, but not quite. With fatigue setting in and chances drying up, the contest was destined for the lottery of spot kicks.
Bono the difference in the shootout
When penalties arrived, Morocco’s composure shone brightest. Bono stood tall, producing two crucial saves — the second a theatrical stop that saw him retreat across his line before lunging to deny a strike — and swung momentum firmly in the hosts’ favour. Nigeria’s Chukwueze and B. Onyemaechi missed their attempts, while Morocco’s lone miss came from Igamane, but Youssef En‑Nesyri calmly dispatched the decisive kick to send the stadium into delirium.
What this means
Morocco’s passage to the final ends a 22‑year wait and hands the Atlas Lions a golden chance to lift only their second AFCON crown. For Nigeria, it is a night of frustration and missed opportunity — a performance that fell well short of the attacking promise their squad carries. For the hosts, however, the result is vindication: tactical discipline, home support and a goalkeeper in inspired form have combined to keep their title dream very much alive.
