In an electrifying and pulsating second part of the 2026 AFCON semiinals played on Wednesday 14th January 2026, the Atlas Lions of Morroco held the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a frustrating goalless draw after 120 minutes of play comprising 90mins regulations time and 30mins extra time.
The action-packed match which ended in 4-2 penalties in favour of the Moroccans put paid to the dreams of Nigerians to clinch yet another AFCON trophy.
Reaving their tactical approach which decided the fate of the game, the Morocco gaffer, Walid Regragui, claimed that they took their energy supply of the eagles, Iwobi, out tactically. The Morocco’s coach said that was how the managed to stop the star-studded and talented Super Eagles after winning to advance to the final.
Walid Regragui revealed after the game that they couldn’t have exposed everything, adding that the idea was to block their playmaker, Iwobi, as he was trying to look for through passes to Osimhen and Lookman.
“It was a bit complicated because it required a lot of energy. We had to increase our intensity, track back consistently, recover loose balls from poor passes, and then transition quickly to attack.”: the gaffer revealed.
Morroco will be meeting Senegal in the final match while the Super Eagles and the Pharaohs of Egypt will be jostling for the 3rd place on Sunday 18th January 2026.
