AFCON 2025 Diary Day 28: Penalty Pain, Tactical Lessons And Why Morocco Truly Deserved The Win

Day 28 (Wednesday, 15 January, 2026)

Well done, Super Eagles; The Better Side Won

Penalty Heartbreak After 120 Minutes Of Grit

UNFORTUNATELY, our boys could not overcome the odds stacked against them in the semi-finals of the AFCON 2025. Following 120 minutes of an absorbing encounter that ended goalless at the Prince Moulay Abdullah Stadium in Rabat, the Super Eagles surrendered to the Atlas Lions of Morocco 4-2 in a penalty shootout.

Morocco’s Tactical Control And Nwabali’s Heroics

We have to admit straightaway that the better side won. Morocco were dominant for long stretches of the game, and it was thanks to the numerous saves by Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali that the match dragged into extra time and penalties. Overall, it wasn’t the best performance by the Eagles. Tactically, the Eagles’ forward line which has been their greatest weapon at this tournament, was effectively neutralised by the Moroccans. Nigeria only had two shots on target.

Also Read: AFCON 2025 Diary Day 27: Mourinho’s Verdict, Super Eagles’ Mental Test & AFCON Semi-Final Drama

Bassey’s Defensive Masterclass And A Costly Suspension

With the frontline not firing particularly because playmaker Alex Iwobi was unable to get the ball to the strikers, it was down to our defence line to keep the rampaging Moroccans at bay. Center-back Calvin Bassey was a Trojan in that regard, repeatedly stopping the Moroccans on their tracks with his physique, and restricting them to shooting from long range. We will miss him in the play-off for Third Place against Egypt as he bagged a yellow card against Morocco and is suspended from our next game.

Predictions Missed As Mourinho Gets It Spot On

On a personal note, it was also a bad day at the office for me. Neither of my two tips for the AFCON 2025 final made it through. Earlier on Wednesday in Tangier, a disappointing and totally dominated Egypt lost 1-0 to a rampant Senegal, while Nigeria lost to Morocco in a closer game. Whenever my match predictions fail, I don’t look for excuses. I simply put my hands up and say I got it wrong.

By contrast, Coach Jose Mourinho was proved right on both calls. He had predicted that Morocco and Senegal are the top two teams in Africa at the moment, and they will contest the AFCON 2025 final on Sunday. That’s why Mourinho is the Special One.

Home Support And Regragui’s Midfield Stranglehold

So, what went wrong for the Super Eagles? I will say that they were simply overwhelmed by the occasion. Morocco’s supporters were decisive. They never got tired of whistling and distracting our boys, while feeding their own team with energy from the stands. It was a masterclass in how to support a sports team.

Morocco coach, Walid Regragui, also got his tactics right. He congested the midfield thereby cutting off the supply route of penetrating passes from Alex Iwobi to our strikers. And, on occasions when some balls got through, the Moroccan defenders would double-team or even triple-team the Nigerian strikers. They didn’t give out boys time and space on the ball at all.

Chelle Accepts Defeat, Defends Players And Eyes The Future

Eagles coach Eric Chelle did not look for excuses either at the post-match conference. He saluted his players for a courageous performance and gave credit to the Moroccans. “We couldn’t keep the ball for any length of time. Many times, our first touch was poor and we were giving possession away too quickly. We couldn’t build momentum. It was a very difficult game for us.”

Chelle refused to single out any of his players for blame even when many observers are pointing the finger at Samuel Chukwueze for taking a poor penalty that was easily stopped by Moroccan goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou. “We won as a team, and lost as a team,” Chelle said. “We introduced Chukwueze for the penalty kicks because his statistics at our practice sessions was one of the best. But you know, football can surprise you at anytime.”

Also Read: AFCON Diary Day 26: Arrival in Rabat, Morocco Showdown Looms, Algeria’s Protest And Super Eagles’ Semi-Final Destiny

Chelle was also asked about his next plan now that his AFCON title pursuit has been terminated. “We have to play against Egypt in the match for third place on Saturday,” he noted. “After that, I will sit down with the President of the (Nigeria Football) Federation to discuss if I stay or I go. For me, I have been a big fan of Nigerian football even before I became the coach of the Super Eagles. I will like to continue with this team after the AFCON, but the decision does not rest with me.”

The Late, Late Show

I STRUGGLED to write this short diary entry. Due to the late kickoff (9.00pm local time) of the Nigeria-Morocco match, many journalists, including yours truly, were forced to stay overnight at the stadium media center because the match dragged into extra time and a penalty shootout.

By the time the post-match conference was concluded, it was already past midnight and there were no taxis to take us home.

I have written this short diary at Four O’Clock in the morning of Thursday, 16 January, 2026 just to ensure that I fulfilled all righteousness. Particularly because I missed my two predictions, I simply had write this diary entry so that readers would not think that I have chickened out!

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By Mumini Alao, in Rabat

Photos by Ganiyu Yusuf