Morocco vs Nigeria: Atlas Lions Reach AFCON Final | Senegal Await

The dream continues. Achraf Hakimi and his team had to go to penalties to defeat Nigeria (0-0, 4-2) this Wednesday, in Rabat, and offer themselves a final at home against Senegal, earlier winner of Egypt (1-0). The Moroccans will therefore challenge Sadio Mané’s Senegal on Sunday in Rabat (8:00 p.m.).

Sparkling Brahim Diaz

The first half of this match was very competitive although slightly dominated by the Moroccans. In attack, the Atlas Lions multiplied the opportunities, carried by a great Brahim Diaz. From the start of the match, the Real Madrid striker attempted a shot at the edge of the area but went just centimeters wide of the target. In the 35th minute, Brahim Diaz obtained a very well placed free kick forcing Bassey to make a mistake. The Nigerian was given a yellow card. Achraf Hakimi hit this free kick which passed a few centimeters from the right corner. This is also the only action of the Moroccan captain in this match. Hakimi was far too invisible throughout this match. Usually a good shooter, he created no danger with his crosses during the numerous corners and free kicks in this meeting.

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After a superb first half, Brahim Diaz and the Moroccan offensives will suffocate in the second half. The Moroccans came up against a much more organized Nigerian defense. If in attack, Nigeria was ghostly, in defense, they were impeccable. Calvin Bassey has saved his teammates on numerous occasions. And he wasn’t alone. Stanley Nwabali, Nigeria’s goalkeeper, kept the score scoreless throughout the match. In the 52nd he made a superb save on a shot from Ezzalzouli, then repeated in the 60th and 83rd. In the air, the goalkeeper was also imperious on the numerous set pieces obtained by Morocco.

Soporific prolongation

The overtime of this match was sleepy for the viewers. Neither team wanted to take any risks. Nigeria remained harmless throughout the match, achieving only one shot on target for two shots in total. The Moroccans were more creative with 16 shots including 5 on target, but none went into the back of the net. During overtime, the two coaches brought in the future shooters. A strange choice on the Nigeria side, Victor Osimhen was replaced less than 5 minutes before penalties.

On penalties, Morocco started. El Aynaoui transformed first before Onuachu transformed. Nigeria could then have taken the lead after Nwabali stopped Igamane’s shot… but Bono in turn also stopped Chukwueze’s penalty. Ben Seghir and Dele-Bashiru transformed in turn, then Hakimi as well. Bono then saved Morocco once again by stopping Onyemaechi’s shot. At that point, Nigeria no longer had its destiny in its hands. En-Nesyri approached without trembling and transformed this last penalty to send Morocco to the final.