Morocco coach Walid Regragui has shifted his attention to the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal after his side defeated Nigeria in a dramatic semi-final. The Atlas Lions advanced on Wednesday via a 4-2 penalty shootout victory following a 0-0 draw at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero of the shootout, saving penalties from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, while Youssef En-Nesyri converted the decisive kick to secure Morocco’s place in the final for the first time since 2004. Regragui praised Bounou’s performance, noting his crucial role in keeping Morocco on course for continental glory.
“The final is a superb match-up between the best African teams of the last three years,” Regragui said, referring to Sunday’s clash against Senegal, who reached the final after defeating Egypt 1-0 at the Grand Stade of Tangier. “It’s a fifty-fifty tie. It’s the first time we’ve faced them in a final.”
Reflecting on the semi-final, Regragui highlighted Morocco’s disciplined defensive performance. “Nigeria are an athletic team; they ran a lot, but had only two shots, one on target. That shows the work we’ve done on defence for three years,” he said.
Regragui also emphasized the importance of recovery and preparation. “We have three days to recover. The medical staff never stop. Today is a victory for everyone. Recovery begins so we are ready mentally and physically.”
The coach acknowledged areas for improvement ahead of the final. “We came up against a very solid team. We still have room to improve. We need a fighting spirit, a desire to play for the jersey. The more consistent we are, the more titles we can win.”
The AFCON 2025 final between Morocco and Senegal will take place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Sunday.
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