IN a match that had everything except goals, Morocco scraped through to their first Africa Cup of Nations final in 21 years after edging Nigeria 4-2 on penalties following 120 minutes of football that will have had cardiologists across the continent reaching for their prescription pads.
The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium erupted into absolute bedlam as Youssef En-Nesyri – ice in his veins, thunder in his boots – smashed home the decisive penalty to send the Atlas Lions into Sunday’s final. Cue pandemonium. Cue tears. Cue scenes that will be replayed in Moroccan cafes until the sun burns out.
For two hours, these sides kicked, scratched, and scraped their way through a tactical chess match that forgot to pack any actual goals. Victor Osimhen huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow the house down. Brahim Diaz danced and dazzled but found Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali – having the game of his life – standing between him and glory like a particularly stubborn brick wall.
The closest either side came was when Morocco’s Nayef Aguerd rattled the woodwork with a header so close you could hear the post breathe a sigh of relief. Calvin Bassey, Nigeria’s defensive colossus, threw his body on the line repeatedly, making clearances like a man possessed.
Then came the dreaded lottery. Morocco, cursed with a woeful AFCON penalty record, somehow channeled their 2022 World Cup heroics against Spain. Neil El Aynaoui opened confidently. Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze responded with a penalty so tame Bounou barely needed to move. Captain Achraf Hakimi rolled his in with the nonchalance of a man ordering coffee.
When Bounou flung out a massive paw to deny Bruno Onyemaechi, the stadium’s collective heart rate hit dangerous levels. En-Nesyri stepped up, and – BANG – smashed it home with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer through a window.
The Super Eagles trudge home, their World Cup qualifying heartbreak compounded by this cruel exit. But Sunday belongs to Morocco. The Atlas Lions roar on.
