In a stunning display of continental football drama, host nation Morocco and defending champions Senegal have secured their places in the Africa Cup of Nations final after two intensely contested semi-final matches on Wednesday.
The Moroccan Atlas Lions advanced following a nerve-wracking penalty shootout victory against Nigeria, with the match ending 0-0 after extra time in Rabat’s packed Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as the national hero, delivering two crucial saves during penalties against Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi. The decisive moment came when Youssef En-Nesyri converted the winning kick, triggering euphoric celebrations among the 65,000-strong home crowd.
Moroccan coach Walid Regragui, who participated in the team’s last AFCON final appearance in 2004, described the encounter as “one of the hardest matches we have had against a very solid and talented team.” He acknowledged the tremendous pressure on his squad to deliver Morocco’s first AFCON title in fifty years while dedicating the victory to the Moroccan people.
The semi-final proved particularly heartbreaking for Nigeria, who had demonstrated exceptional form throughout the tournament as the highest-scoring team with 14 goals in their first five matches. Coach Eric Chelle expressed pride in his players despite the penalty shootout defeat, stating they were “maybe the best team that there has been in this AFCON.”
In the earlier semi-final, Sadio Mané’s 78th-minute strike secured Senegal’s 1-0 victory against Egypt in Tangiers, ending Mohamed Salah’s championship aspirations. The 33-year-old Senegalese captain announced this would mark his final AFCON appearance, expressing determination to bring the trophy back to Dakar.
Mané praised his former Liverpool teammate Salah as “one of the best players in the world” while emphasizing his commitment to national duty: “I am a soldier of the nation. I try to give my all every day, whether in training or in matches.”
The upcoming final represents Morocco’s opportunity to claim their second AFCON title overall, while Senegal seeks to defend their 2022 championship in what promises to be a spectacular conclusion to Africa’s premier football tournament.