Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations dream ended in agony on Wednesday night as the Super Eagles lost 4–2 on penalties to hosts Morocco in the semi-final.
After 120 minutes without a goal, penalties ultimately decided the match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Although Stanley Nwabali, the goalkeeper, produced a strong performance, making five saves and stopping Hamza Igamane’s penalty, Nigeria fell short. 
Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou became the hero after saving penalties from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, before Youssef En-Nesyri scored the winning kick to send the Atlas Lions into the final.
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Chukwueze’s Missed Penalty Disappoints Nigerians
Despite an organised and disciplined performance from the Super Eagles, Samuel Chukwueze’s missed penalty became a defining moment of Nigeria’s AFCON semi-final exit and left many fans frustrated.
Shortly after the defeat, comedian and football enthusiast Bovi Ugboma reacted strongly on social media.
While he acknowledged the team’s overall effort, he criticised what he described as a casual approach to such a crucial moment. According to Bovi, representing Nigeria demands total seriousness, especially in decisive situations like a penalty shootout.
He also warned players against relying too heavily on social media praise, insisting that fans celebrate performances, not personalities.
Referee Controversy: Nigerians Blast Ghanaian Official After Semi-Final Loss
The appointment of Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea for the Morocco vs. Nigeria AFCON semi-final stirred debate among Nigerian fans even before kick-off.
After Nigeria’s 4–2 penalty shootout loss to Morocco, anger on social media quickly focused on the officiating. Several fans and commentators labelled the referee’s decisions as unfair or inconsistent, especially over fouls and bookings given during the match.
Some critics even claimed his performance favoured the hosts, fueling a wave of online backlash.
Nigerian supporters took their frustrations to his Instagram page, with many tagging and commenting on Laryea’s Instagram page. The flood of negative responses became so intense that the referee had to deactivate his Instagram account.
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Senegal vs Egypt: Mané Delivers When It Matters
Earlier in the night, Senegal reached the AFCON final with a hard-fought 1–0 win over Egypt. The game stayed tight for long periods, as Egypt struggled in attack and managed just one shot on target deep into stoppage time.
The breakthrough came in the 78th minute when Sadio Mané scored the winning goal. He reacted quickly to a loose ball after a blocked shot and calmly placed it into the corner.
Once again, Mané got the better of Mohamed Salah on the AFCON stage, just as he did in the 2021 final, sending Senegal back into the final.
What’s Next for AFCON 2025?
Morocco will now face Senegal in the AFCON 2025 final on Sunday, 18 January 2026, at 8:00 PM GMT at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, while Nigeria will meet Egypt in the third-place playoff on Saturday at 5:00 PM in Casablanca.
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