• To tackle Egypt in third place game
From our Sports desk, Lagos
In the highly technical game though dominated by the Atlas Lions of Morocco for the better part of the 120 minutes of open play including an extra time of 30 minutes, the Nigeria Super Eagles finally succumbed 2-4 to the host via penalty shootout.
The resilient Super Eagles who soaked the pressure piled by the Moroccans at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, had the 12th player (massive loud home crowd) which occupied almost all the available space, to contend with.
The Moroccans playing fast football as part of their game plan, were able to neutralize the Nigeria frontline of the talismanic Victor Osihmen, slippery Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams.
With the absence of the captain, Wilfred Ndidi due to two previous yellow cards received, obviously not helping matters.
Even as Calvin Bassey remains a solid rock at the Super Eagles back area, and Samuel Osayi doing a yeoman’s job effectively shielding Stanley Nwabali between the sticks from the incessant incursion of the opposition.
In the penalty shoot, the Super Eagles lost two, converted two and Nwabali saved one
While, the home team lost one, and converted four of its kicks to sail through to the finals against Senegal scheduled to hold on Sunday. It will be a game of the Lions; and another expected cracker.
The Super Eagles expectedly would do everything humanly possible to overcome the equally wounded Egyptians in the third place game on Saturday, as consolation after failing to qualify for the 2026 World cup.
The Atlas Lions remain in the hunt to secure a first continental title since 1976.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero, saving two spot kicks before Youssef En-Nesyri stroked home the winner.
The North Africans are back in the final for the first time since 2004, when they lost against Tunisia.
Walid Regragui’s team will now take on Senegal, who beat Egypt 1-0 in the other semi-final tie.
Sadio Mane scored the only goal for the Teranga Lions in Tangier, in the process ending his former Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah’s hopes of lifting the trophy for the first time.
The 2021 champions are into the final for the fourth time, having lost the showpiece match in 2002 and 2019.
The final will see Africa’s top two sides clash in Rabat, with Morocco ranked 11th in the world and the Senegalese eight places below them.
What happened in the Afcon 2025 semi-finals?
Senegal dominated their last four meeting with Egypt in what was a repeat of the 2021 final which the Teranga Lions won on penalties.
Mane won the contest in Tangier in the 78th minute, netting a low shot that flew past Pharaohs goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.
The North Africans offered little in attack, with Salah largely anonymous.
In another heavyweight clash, Morocco enjoyed the better of their tie against Nigeria.
Brahim Diaz curled narrowly wide for the Atlas Lions and Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made good saves to deny Ismael Saibari and Abde Ezzalzouli.
In the shootout, Bounou denied Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, while Nwabali’s stop from Hamza Igamane proved in vain before En-Nesyri settled it.
Additional report by the BBC