Host nation Morocco are into the AFCON 2025 final after surviving a tense night in Rabat and a nerve-shredding shootout. On January 14, 2026, at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, the Atlas Lions edged Nigeria 4-2 on penalties following a 0-0 draw through 90 minutes and extra time. It was tight. It was tactical. And when it mattered most, it was Yassine Bounou who made the difference again.

As one apt summary put it: “The hosts march on to the final, carried by belief, discipline and the roar of Rabat. Nigeria bow out after a courageous campaign, undone by fine margins on the biggest stage.”

AFCON 2025 semifinal in Rabat: a chess match to the last kick

This was not a night of open-armed chaos. It was a game of control and patience. Morocco dominated the ball and tried to pick their moments, while Nigeria sat compact and looked to spring forward with speed. Chances were limited, and both back lines held firm.

Nigeria’s threat was real. With Victor Osimhen’s power, Ademola Lookman’s movement, and Akor Adams’s penalty-box instincts — nine goals combined at this tournament — the Super Eagles always had a puncher’s chance on the counter. But Morocco’s shape and discipline kept the most dangerous moments at arm’s length.

By full-time it was 0-0. Extra time didn’t crack it either. The clock ticked past 120 minutes and the tension spiked. Around 22:40 GMT, the shootout began. This was the moment where decision-making, nerve and tiny edges decide everything.

“Bounou doesn’t just save shots; he saves nights for Morocco.”

Penalty psychology: Morocco shoot first, Bounou stands tallest

Morocco won the coin toss and chose to shoot first, a small but meaningful advantage in the penalty game. Each run-up carried the weight of a nation. The technique was sound, the heads were steady, and the champions of composure rose to the surface.

Again, it was Bounou — better known as Bono — who owned the defining moments. He produced crucial saves, including one bizarre stop that underlined how, in shootouts, goalkeepers win not only with hands and feet but with presence and poise. The statement from the night was simple: “Once again, Yassine Bounou became the great hero in a penalty shootout. This time it was against Nigeria in the semifinals of AFCON, sending host nation Morocco to the grand final.”

When the dust cleared, Morocco had won 4-2. The roar told the story. A clean sheet over 120 minutes and ice-cold penalties put the hosts where they believed they belonged from the start: one game from continental glory.

“Nigeria were a moment away — it’s the coin flip of elite football.”

Belief, discipline, and the Rabat roar

The Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah was a wall of noise well before kickoff. The pre-match scenes were pure AFCON: color, song, and a full stadium pushing every Morocco touch. That energy can be heavy for hosts. On this night, it felt like fuel.

Morocco’s plan was built on trust. Trust in their shape. Trust in their legs. Trust that the big moment would come or, if it didn’t, they would be ready when the game reached the coin toss of penalties. As another reflection captured, “Morocco win the shoot-out and qualify for the AFCON 2025 FINAL. Bounou emerges as the hero once again as Morocco hold their nerve, while Nigeria are left heartbroken after a shoot-out filled with drama and missed chances.”

“Senegal next: same steel, more bite needed in open play.”

What this means: a final date with Senegal

Next up is a mouth-watering final against Senegal, who beat Egypt 1-0 to book their place. It is a heavyweight clash, a meeting of trusted identities. Morocco bring control and calm. Senegal bring power and precision. Both bring belief.

For Morocco, the path here included a statement win over Cameroon and now this penalty triumph over Nigeria. The comfort is that knockout experience counts. The caution is that finals can turn on one untidy sequence or one flash of class. The Atlas Lions will want more clear chances in open play. But they also know that, if it goes long again, they have a shootout master in goal.

Timeline and turning points

• Full time at 90 minutes: 0-0 and on to extra time.
• AET: Still 0-0 after 120 minutes, goalkeepers in command and few clean looks.
• Penalty shootout started around 22:40 GMT.
• Morocco won the toss, shot first, and won the shootout 4-2.
• Bounou made the defining saves, including one bizarre stop that swung momentum.

It all adds up to a clean, controlled semifinal performance and the ultimate test of nerve. “With the win, Morocco advance to the AFCON 2025 final, where they will chase continental glory on home soil. For Nigeria, it was heartbreak after a disciplined and resilient display that deserved more—but football, once again, came down to nerve and precision.”

Nigeria’s brave run meets fine margins

Nigeria leave the tournament with pride intact. Their plan was clear and well-drilled, their stars always a danger on the break. This was a team built to absorb, to pick spots, and to punish. On another night, one finish or one save might flip the story. Here, the coin landed Morocco’s way.

There will be frustration in the small details: a heavy touch on a break, a pass that ran short, or the cruel theater of the shootout. But the Super Eagles showed enough across the campaign to believe they are close. The next step is turning tight games into wins against elite opponents.

Final word: hosts with destiny in sight

Morocco are 90 minutes from lifting the trophy on home soil. The city of Rabat has felt like a living, breathing part of this team, and its energy will carry into the final. If the Atlas Lions bring the same control and courage, if Bounou stays in his penalty-saving groove, they will give themselves a real chance to finish the job.

The margins were thin. The moments were big. Morocco owned them. Now comes Senegal — a final with everything on the line, and a host nation ready to meet the moment once again.