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Nigeria’s Super Eagles this Wednesday night, January 14, 2026, succumbed to hosts, the Atlas Lions of Morocco, thus failing to qualify for the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The tense semi-final encounter decided at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat witnessed no goal during the full 90 minutes, thus forcing the match into extra time.
The extra 30 minutes equally produced no goal, thus forcing the match into penalty shootouts.
In the end, it was Morocco that triumphed after the goalkeeper saved the kicks of Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, while Stanley Nwabali saved one.
For Morocco, their aim to win another title since their first one in 1976 remains very much on course.
The will now play Senegal in Sunday’s final – the West Africans having eliminated the Pharaohs of Egypt in the first semi-final decided earlier in the evening.
Nigeria will meet Egypt in the third-place match.
