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Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero with two saves in the shoot-out as hosts Morocco beat Nigeria 4-2 on penalties to set up an Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday with Senegal after a tense last-four clash on Wednesday finished goalless at the end of extra time.
Bounou saved from Samuel Chukwueze and from Bruno Onyemaechi, allowing Youssef En-Nesyri to convert the winning kick and spark wild celebrations inside the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
There was joy but also relief for Hamza Igamane, who had appeared distraught after his kick was saved by Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. He was the only Moroccan player to fail to score in the shoot-out; however, with captain and talisman Achraf Hakimi among those who converted their penalties.
Morocco will now play Senegal on Sunday after the Lions of Teranga defeated Mohamed Salah’s Egypt 1-0 in the other semi-final earlier, thanks to a Sadio Mane goal.
That will be a clash between the top two African sides in the FIFA world rankings and a fitting showpiece for the tournament.
Walid Regragui’s Morocco have been under enormous pressure to deliver a first AFCON title for their country in half a century, but will be confident of coming out on top with their support behind them at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
But as their dream remains alive, it is an agonising way for Nigeria’s hopes to end, two years after they lost the final to the hosts in the Ivory Coast.
