Morocco beat Nigeria on penalties to earn their place in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal on Sunday. The two pre-tournament favourites played out a forgettable 0-0 draw at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with neither side looking like they would find a winner. To penalties it went, and it was Walid Regragui’s side that emerged victorious.
Youssef En-Nesyri, who has been reportedly linked with a move to Everton this month, stepped off the bench to net the winning spot-kick in the shootout after Nigeria left-back Bruno Onyemaechi had missed the Super Eagles’ fourth penalty. It spared the blushes of Hamza Igamane, who struck tamely at Stanley Nwabali, but Samuel Chukwueze brought the Atlas Lions back level as he sent a daisy-cutter straight into the grateful gloves of Bono.
The hosts were the better side throughout, having more of the ball and the better of the chances, but they could not find that elusive winning goal. In the end, it didn’t matter, with En-Nesyri winning the battle of wits with Nwabali to fire his side into this weekend’s final.
Nigeria vs Morocco latest news
- GOOD SAVE! Ezzalzouli denied again
- GOOD SAVE! Nwabali keeps out Ezzalzouli
- CLOSE! Diaz flicked header just misses
- GOOD SAVE! Lookman denied by Bono
- CLOSE! Diaz sends effort whistling wide
Morocco through to face Senegal!
23:07 , Oli GentThe Atlas Lions are into the final of their home tournament after a thrilling shootout.
FT: Nigeria 0-0 Morocco (Morocco win 4-2 on pens)
22:49 , Oli GentThat’s it, and the hosts are through. What a shootout.
Nigeria 2-4 Morocco
22:48 , Oli GentEn-Nesyri... wins it for the hosts!
Nigeria 2-3 Morocco
22:47 , Oli GentBruno Onyemaechi steps up... but he’s kept out by Bono!
Nigeria 2-3 Morocco
22:46 , Oli GentHakimi... calmly done.
Nigeria 2-2 Morocco
22:45 , Oli GentDele-Bashiru tucks it away.
Nigeria 1-2 Morocco
22:44 , Oli GentBen Seghir steps up and slams home.
Nigeria 1-1 Morocco
22:43 , Oli GentSaved! Chukwueze sees his spot-kick saved by Bono!
Nigeria 1-1 Morocco
22:42 , Oli GentSaved! Igamane is denied by Nwabali!
Nigeria 1-1 Morocco
22:41 , Oli GentOnuachu up first for the Super Eagles... and he slots home.
Nigeria 0-1 Morocco
22:40 , Oli GentEl Aynaoui up first... scores.
Penalty shootout!
22:36 , Oli GentWho will win the battle of nerves?
FT: Nigeria 0-0 Morocco (AET)
22:35 , Oli GentTo penalties we go.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
22:33 , Oli Gent120+1 mins: Chukwueze is on for Nigeria.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
22:32 , Oli Gent120 mins: One added minute.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
22:30 , Oli Gent118 mins: Changes afoot for both sides as Osimhen is coming off for Onuachu. An interesting decision with penalties coming...
Ben Seghir is on for Saibari.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
22:29 , Oli Gent117 mins: No sign of a winner coming any time soon here. Penalties, it will be...
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
22:26 , Oli Gent115 mins: Osimhen is looking dead on his feet... and maybe a little injured too. Galatasaray won’t be happy if their star striker returns crocked...
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
22:23 , Oli Gent111 mins: More whistles coming from the home fans. They won’t suck the ball into the Nigeria net though...
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
22:19 , Oli Gent108 mins: Diaz is on his last legs, with Akhomach on in his place.
Kick off!
22:17 , Oli Gent106 mins: Back underway once more.
HT (ET): Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
22:14 , Oli GentHalfway in extra time. Still no sign of a winner.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
22:13 , Oli Gent105 mins: One added minute.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
22:10 , Oli Gent102 mins: Youssef En-Nesyri is coming on for the hosts, replacing Ezzalzouli.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
22:06 , Oli Gent99 mins: Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is on for the Super Eagles, replacing Akor Adams.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
22:04 , Oli Gent98 mins: A corner for the hosts to defend as Lookman sends one in, but his flat delivery is cleared by Mazraoui.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
22:03 , Oli Gent96 mins: Igamane has made an impact since coming on. He’s shown his trickery, and does so once more as he nutmegs Osayi-Samuel. He drifts in off the left, nutmegging Onyeka this time before looking to curl one into the far corner, but it’s wide of the target.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
22:01 , Oli Gent93 mins: It’s clipped up to the back post for Aguerd, who can only nod into the side-netting.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:59 , Oli Gent92 mins: Corner, Morocco. Ezzalzouli against Osayi-Samuel has been a good tussle down the left. A chance for the hosts to whip one in early in this extra period.
Kick off!
21:59 , Oli Gent91 mins: We’re back underway.
FT: Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:52 , Oli GentThat’s it, and we’ll have another half an hour.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:49 , Oli Gent90 mins: Three added minutes.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:46 , Oli Gent88 mins: The whistles keep coming from the home fans. Can Nigeria find the goal that would shut them up?
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:45 , Oli Gent86 mins: A hopeful punt from Bassey looks for Adams, but he can’t bring it under his spell. That sums up Nigeria’s night.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:42 , Oli Gent84 mins: Moses Simon is on for Onyedika. El Khannouss is coming off for Morocco, with Targhalline and Igamane on for El Kaabi.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:41 , Oli Gent83 mins: Morocco are turning up the heat as Ezzalzouli has a pop from range, and Nwabali gets down to keep it out as it bounces in front of him.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:38 , Oli Gent80 mins: The home side, the bench, and the entire crowd is screaming for handball as Hakimi strikes against Bruno. VAR is having a look, but nothing doing. 10 to go. Will we find a winner?
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:35 , Oli Gent77 mins: Hakimi is over the corner with El Kaabi looking to meet it at the front post, but it’s wide of the target.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:34 , Oli Gent76 mins: Dangerous! Ezzalzouli teases Osayi-Samuel and gets the cross in, with Nwabali in no-man’s land. Bruno has to intervene ahead of Diaz at the far post! Corner.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:31 , Oli Gent72 mins: Both sides need to up the tempo here if they want to avoid another half hour.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:28 , Oli Gent69 mins: The whistling from the Moroccan fans have really gone up a fair number of decibels with every touch the Nigerians take. The atmosphere is getting hostile...
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:25 , Oli Gent66 mins: Still neither side with a real sighting of goal. The defences are coming out on top at the moment.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:21 , Oli Gent63 mins: Osimhen has hardly a sniff so far for Nigeria. The Super Eagles are looking more direct for him with the long balls, but he’s being doubled up on.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:18 , Oli Gent60 mins: Ezzalzouli sends it in low, but Nwabali drops on it with bodies running across him.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:17 , Oli Gent59 mins: Osayi-Samuel is penalised as he wrestles Ezzalzouli to the ground tight to the left touchline. A chance for the hosts to send one into the box.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:14 , Oli Gent55 mins: The hosts are cautious in their press, but as soon as the Super Eagles cross the halfway line, they’re being chased and harried. Onyeka is the latest to play a wayward pass under pressure.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:11 , Oli Gent52 mins: Good save! Morocco streak forward, and it’s worked towards Ezzalzouli who looks to place it into the far corner, but Nwabali keeps him out.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:09 , Oli Gent51 mins: Bruno and Lookman combine down the left, but the left-back’s cross is cleared easily. It drops for Onyedika running onto it, but he scuffs his effort well wide.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
21:07 , Oli Gent48 mins: The hosts are back on the front foot, buoyed by their partisan support.
Kick off!
21:03 , Oli Gent46 mins: We’re back underway.
HT: Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:47 , Oli GentGoalless at the interval. No real gilt-edged, golden opportunities to open the scoring yet. What will the second half have in store?
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:46 , Oli Gent45 mins: One added minute.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:43 , Oli Gent43 mins: Still no real clear-cut chances for either sides. It’s been quite stop-start so far.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:40 , Oli Gent40 mins: Good save! The hosts are knocking on the door as Ezzalzouli tests Nwabali with a pot-shot. The Nigeria keeper is equal to it, however.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:37 , Oli Gent37 mins: That booking for Bassey is a real blow for him and Nigeria. If the Super Eagles win tonight, the defender would be suspended for the final.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:35 , Oli Gent34 mins: Close! Hakimi goes for it, but it flies over the bar.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:34 , Oli Gent33 mins: Free kick, Morocco. Bassey is booked for an alleged arm on Diaz right on the edge of the box. It looks really harsh, but the hosts have a chance here.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:29 , Oli Gent29 mins: Close! Morocco are getting closer as Hakimi sends in a teasing cross which Diaz flicks on at the near post... but it’s just wide!
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:28 , Oli Gent28 mins: Free kick, Morocco. Diaz claims handball against Adams, and the hosts get the set piece.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:24 , Oli Gent24 mins: It’s all Morocco in these opening exchanges. The home crowd is booing every touch the Nigerian players take. Can they handle the pressure?
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:21 , Oli Gent20 mins: Another chance for the hosts to throw the ball into the box as Ezzalzouli plays it short for El Khannouss to send one in, but again, the Nigerians are up to the task.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:18 , Oli Gent17 mins: The first corner of the evening is poor from El Khannouss, as Osimhen clears well at the front post.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:15 , Oli Gent14 mins: Good save! The first bit of work either keeper has had to do as Ademola Lookman stings the palms of Bono.
The Atalanta forward hits one from the edge of the area but doesn’t catch it cleanly, and the hosts’ shot-stopper gets down well.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:10 , Oli Gent10 mins: Close! Diaz cuts inside this time and looks for the curler as Hakimi goes on the outside on the decoy overlap.
The Real Madrid man looks to bend one into the far corner, and it whistles past the post!
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:08 , Oli Gent8 mins: Moroccan pressure as they look for the danger man Diaz out wide, but Bassey does well to get across and smash out of play.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:04 , Oli Gent4 mins: Almost a huge error from Ajayi early on as the centre-back is caught out of position, letting El Kaabi in, but he makes a superb recovery, diving in to nick the ball away from the Morocco striker.
Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
20:03 , Oli Gent3 mins: A high press from the Nigerians straight off the bat. The hosts are playing it around the back, and Osimhen and Adams are haring after them.
Kick off!
20:00 , Oli Gent1 min: We’re underway.
Five minutes to kick off!
19:55 , Oli GentThe players are out, and it’s time for the anthems.
Ten minute warning
19:53 , Oli GentA huge clash here in Rabat. Who will win this one and book a place in the final against Senegal?
Eyes on a Moroccan substitute...
19:45 , Oli GentReports earlier today claimed that Everton had launched a loan bid for Youssef En-Nesyri, the Morocco striker.
The Fenerbahce forward is on the bench this evening, but can he make a difference off it to really convince David Moyes to bring him to England?
🚨🔵 Everton send official bid to Fenerbahçe for Youssef En-Nesyri on initial loan with €20m buy option.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 14, 2026
Negotiations underway. #EFC pic.twitter.com/S6aBM6hect
Chelsea dealt double injury blow
19:40 , Oli GentThere’s quite a big game happening as well this evening at Stamford Bridge, as Arsenal travel to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.
The Blues are suffering with some injuries.
Osimhen skippers the side
19:29 , Oli GentVictor Osimhen takes the captain’s armband for Chelle’s side tonight in the absence of Wilfred Ndidi, who is suspended for this clash.
It means that Raphael Onyedika sits as the midfield anchor in the diamond in the former Leicester man’s place, flanked by Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka.
Senegal through to the final!
19:20 , Oli GentSenegal beat Egypt 1-0 in Tangier to reach Sunday’s final, where they will face the winners of this semi.
Morocco lineup
19:10 , Oli GentMorocco XI: Bono; Hakimi, Aguerd, Masina, Mazraoui; El Aynaoui; Diaz, El Khannous, Saibari, Ezzalzouli; El Kaabi
Subs: Ben Seghir, Belammari, Targhalline, Munir, Igamane, Salah-Eddine, Rahimi, Talbi, Al Harrar, En-Nesyri, Amrabat, Akhomach, El Yamiq, Chibi, Ait Boudial
Nigeria lineup
19:02 , Oli GentHere’s how the hosts line up...
Nigeria XI: Nwabali; Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Onyeka, Onyedika, Iwobi; Lookman; Osimhen, Adams
Subs: Uzoho, Simon, Awaziem, Mohammed, Ejuke, Nnadi, Dele-Bashiru, Chukwueze, Akinsanmiro, Sanusi, Ogbu, Lawal, Obasogie, Onuachu
Big goal in Tangier!
18:50 , Oli GentThere’s been a goal between Senegal and Egypt, but for who, Arthur Ferridge?
In transfer news...
18:40 , Oli GentIn England, Conor Gallagher has signed for Tottenham in a £34.6million move.
The former Chelsea man leaves Atletico Madrid to return to the Premier League.
Also tonight!
18:30 , Oli GentSenegal take on Egypt in the other semi-final this evening.
Who could the winner of this clash face in Sunday’s final?
Match odds
18:20 , Oli GentNigeria to qualify: 31/20
Morocco to qualify: 9/20
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Head to head
18:10 , Oli GentThis match will be the first time Nigeria and Morocco have met at AFCON for 22 years. They were drawn into the same group in 2004, with Youssouf Hadji scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win for the Atlas Lions, who finished that tournament as runners-up.
Nigeria wins: 3
Morocco wins: 6
Draws: 2
Standard Sport prediction
18:00 , Oli GentThe Super Eagles have not been able to call themselves champions of Africa since 2013, and so far in this tournament, they have looked likelier than ever to end their extended drought.
They have steadily improved through the tournament, too, playing their best football so far against their toughest opponent as they downed Algeria last time out.
It necessarily follows, then, that as they face tournament favourites Morocco, they can be expected to improve further.
That is easier said than done, of course, but throughout this AFCON Nigeria have risen to every challenge they have faced.
The Super Eagles will need to be at their very best against stiff opposition, though they have all the requisite quality to get the better of the injury-hit Atlas Lions.
Nigeria to win, 2-1.
Morocco team news
17:53 , Oli GentMeanwhile, Morocco have been struggling with injuries throughout the campaign, but their probelms have largely alleviated ahead of this match.
They are, however, expected to be without Azzedine Ounah, who sustained a calf injury in training. Romain Saiss is also out after he was hurt against Comoros.
Nigeria team news
17:45 , Oli GentEric Chelle will not be able to call upon Wilfred Ndidi in Rabat, with the former Leicester midfielder suspended for one match accruing too many bookings at the tournament. As such, he will be available for the final should Nigeria beat Morocco.
Raphael Onyedika is expected to deputise the Besiktas midfielder in Rabat.
There is concern surrounding Bright Osayi-Samuel, who was forced off with an injury late on against Algeria. It is not clear whether he will be fit for the semi-final.
Panathinaikos forward Cyriel Dessers will not be available either after withdrawing from camp with a thigh injury.
How to watch
17:40 , Oli GentTV channel: Every match of the tournament will be broadcast across Channel 4’s network.
The game will be broadcast on E4, with coverage starting at 7.30pm GMT ahead of an 8pm kick-off.
Live stream: UK viewers will be able to stream the game on All 4.
Hello and welcome!
17:30 , Oli Gent... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Nigeria vs Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.
This should be a cracker of a clash in Rabat, but who will reach Sunday’s final?
Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 8pm GMT.
