Walid Regragui praises rock-solid defensive display as Morocco book AFCON final spot
Walid Regragui lauded his side's defence after Morocco secured their place in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with victory over Nigeria on Wednesday.
Penalty pain continues for Stanley Nwabali after Super Nigeria's AFCON exit
Nigeria were held to a 0-0 draw after regulation time and extra-time before succumbing 4-2 on penalties, a result that ended their hopes of lifting a fourth AFCON crown.
Nwabali was one of Nigeria's standout performers on the night, pulling off a string of crucial saves to keep the Super Eagles in the contest and even denying Morocco with a save from their second spot-kick in the shootout.
However, his heroics were not enough to prevent another shootout disappointment, with the goalkeeper experiencing back-to-back penalty heartbreaks after also losing to DR Congo in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-offs.
Taking to his X account after the match, Nwabali summed up his emotions in a brief but poignant message.
"Not again!!!! (with a broken heart emoji)," he wrote.
The Super Eagles will now regroup ahead of Saturday's third-place play-off against Egypt.
Eric Chelle admits what went wrong after Super Eagles crash out of AFCON
Eric Chelle has acknowledged that Morocco were the better side on the night after the Super Eagles' AFCON 2025 campaign ended in semi-final disappointment following a penalty shootout defeat in Rabat on Wednesday.
Morocco edge Nigeria on penalties to reach long-awaited AFCON final
Morocco moved to within one game of ending their long Africa Cup of Nations title drought after defeating Nigeria 4-2 on penalties following a tense, goalless semi-final in Rabat on Wednesday night.
“All that matters is winning," says Morocco's Walid Regragui ahead of AFCON semi-final with Nigeria
Walid Regragui says winning is all that matters as Morocco prepare to face Nigeria in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash on Wednesday.