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Morocco Reach AFCON Final After Shootout Win Over Nigeria

Bono’s two penalty saves send the hosts toward a Sunday final against Senegal in Rabat.

Overview

  • After a 0-0 draw through extra time, Morocco advanced 4-2 on penalties, with Yassine Bounou saving two attempts and Youssef En‑Nesyri converting the clincher.
  • Senegal await in the final on Sunday, 18 January at 20:00 in Rabat, having defeated Egypt 1-0 to return to the title match as defending champions.
  • Head coach Walid Regragui took responsibility for introducing Hamza Igamane, acknowledging the substitution backfired after the forward later missed in the shootout.
  • Nigerian players and media decried referee Daniel Laryea’s performance, while coach Éric Chelle congratulated Morocco and commended the tournament’s organization.
  • Large celebrations broke out in Morocco and on Paris’s Champs‑Élysées despite a ban on supporter gatherings, as police dispersed crowds and separate reports cited arrests of Algerian fans over earlier incidents.