Morocco ends Nigeria’s title hopes with penalty shoot-out win

By Tosin Omojola –

Nigeria’s hope of winning a fourth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title ended painfully on Wednesday night as the Super Eagles lost their semi-final clash 4–2 on penalties to hosts Morocco.

The energy-sapping encounter, played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, ended goalless as both teams failed to find the back of the net throughout the 90 minutes.

This forced the game into extra time, but neither side could find a breakthrough during the additional 30 minutes.

In the ensuing penalty shoot-out, the hosts scored four of their kicks, missing just one, while Nigeria could only convert two.

The outcome means Morocco will face Senegal in the final on Sunday, while Nigeria will take on the Pharaohs of Egypt in the third-place match.

Recall that Nigeria also failed to qualify for the final play-off for a place at next year’s World Cup, having lost on penalties to DR Congo, also in Morocco.