Samuel Chukwueze contributed only a missed penalty to the game.
By FaithJanuary 15, 20264 min read
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]
How about that confidence from En-Nesyri?
Most players standing over the deciding penalty would have looked a bag of nerves. Not Youssef En-Nesyri, though.
The Morocco substitute exuded confidence every step of the way between the halfway line and the penalty spot.
And then he thumped his left-footed penalty past the despairing Stanley Nwabali and into the bottom corner.
Not perturbed by having to come off the bench, En-Nesyri struck the decisive blow.
The noise, the noise. It felt like the whole of Morocco was behind that hand from Yassine Bounou to save the crucial penalty.
First-ever AFCON shootout win for Morocco
Morocco entered tonight having lost their two previous AFCON penalty shootouts, while Nigeria were the most successful team in AFCON shootouts, having won six of eight.
So, some more history for the hosts tonight, while another bitter pill to swallow for Eric Chelle's crestfallen players.
Morocco enhances penalty shootout pedigree
Regardless of the home support in Rabat, it always felt that Morocco were better equipped to win that penalty shootout.
Those of you with a decent memory might recall the 2022 World Cup when Walid Regragui's men thumped Spain.
After a goalless draw in Qatar, Yassine Bounou didn't concede any of the three penalties he faced and Morocco won 3-0 in the shootout.
These pressure situations call for the biggest personalities and Morocco simply had more of them this evening.
Why can't this talented generation of Nigerian players turn up in big games?
For the third year in a row they have stumbled at a big hurdle.
In 2024 they lost the AFCON final against Ivory Coast. Last year they crashed out of the World Cup play-offs. Tonight they have been eliminated by the hosts.
First-ever AFCON shootout win for Morocco
Morocco entered tonight having lost their two previous AFCON penalty shootouts, while Nigeria were the most successful team in AFCON shootouts having won six of eight.
So some more history for the hosts tonight while another bitter pill to swallow for Eric Chelle's crestfallen players.
Morocco enhance penalty shootout pedigree
Regardless of the home support in Rabat, it always felt that Morocco were better equipped to win that penalty shootout.
Those of you with a decent memory might recall the 2022 World Cup when Walid Regragui's men thumped Spain.
After a goalless draw in Qatar, Yassine Bounou didn't concede any of the three penalties he faced and Morocco won 3-0 in the shootout.
These pressure situations call for the biggest personalities and Morocco simply had more of them this evening.
Why can't this talented generation of Nigerian players turn up in big games?
For the third year in a row they have stumbled at a big hurdle.
In 2024 they lost the AFCON final against Ivory Coast. Last year they crashed out of the World Cup play-offs. Tonight they have been eliminated by the hosts
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Advertisements
Cookie Consent
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
