AFCON 2025: Super Eagles fails to cage Atlas Lions of Morocco , fell 4-2 on penalties
For the second time in eight-and-half weeks, the Super Eagles fell at the hurdle of penalty kicks in a major contest, losing 2-4 to the Atlas Lions of Morocco in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Wednesday night.
Hamza Igamane, Eliesse Ben Seghir, captain Achraf Hakimi and Youssef El-Nesyri found the net in the penalty shootout, while only Paul Onuachu and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru netted for Nigeria. Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi saw their kicks saved by Yassine Bounou.
It was an unkind reminder of the defeat by the Democratic Republic of Congo in the FIFA World Cup Playoff Final at the same venue on 16th November last year, in which the Eagles lost out in sudden death after 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time.
Before the shootout, the three-time champions, resplendent in their all-white jersey, refused to be intimidated by a boiling cauldron that held 65,458 spectators, as they dug their feet into the ground against the Lions in over 120 minutes of a highly-tactical game.
Azz-edinne Ounahi cut in sharply on the right in the 8th minute and went close with a snap shot as both teams were still settling down into the encounter.
The Super Eagles broke forward in the 14th minute and the tireless Frank Onyeka released Ademola Lookman, who drove inside and tested Bounou from the edge of the box.
Hakimi came close in the 34th minute from a free-kick at the edge of the box, and Nwabali had to be alert in the 39th minute to parry a fierce shot by Ismael Saibari as the hosts mounted pressure.
In the second half, Nwabali foiled Saibari, tournament leading scorer Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi. At the other end, the Lions’ rearguard had to be alert on several occasions to prevent damage as Bruno Onyemaechi, Lookman and Victor Osimhen sought to put Nigeria in front.
Thirty minutes of extra time could still not separate both teams, and the contest had to be settled by penalty shootout.
Defeat means the Eagles will now confront the Pharaohs of Egypt in the third-place match on Saturday in Casablanca. Hosts Morocco and Senegal clash in the Final on Sunday in Rabat.
