The dream of a fourth continental title has ended in tears for Nigeria as the Super Eagles were knocked out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tonight, Wednesday, 14 January 2026.
In a grueling semi-final clash that saw both teams locked in a tactical stalemate for 120 minutes, tournament hosts Morocco edged out Nigeria 4-2 on penalties to secure their place in the grand finale.
The defensive partnership of Calvin Bassey and Benjamin Tanimu (now the cornerstone of the backline) was disciplined and resilient, thwarting multiple attempts by Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi.
The Super Eagles nearly stole it in the 108th minute when Victor Osimhen’s strike rattled the crossbar, but the deadlock remained unbroken.
The absence of seasoned veterans was felt in the high-pressure shootout. While Osimhen and Lookman scored, two key misses from the younger players sealed the Eagles’ fate.
Éric Chelle, Super Eagles Head Coach:
”I am proud of my players. We executed the plan perfectly for 120 minutes against the best team on the continent. Penalties are a lottery, and tonight, the luck was with the hosts. We are building something special, and this young team will learn from this pain.”
The Super Eagles will remain in Morocco to compete in the Third-Place Play-off on Saturday, January 17, 2026. Fans will be looking to see how the “new-look” defense handles the pressure of securing a podium finish for the country.
