CLOSING REMARKS – SEMI-FINAL NIGHT IN RABAT
What a night of African football in Rabat. Afterwards 120 account of grit, conduct and appropriate chess that concluded goalless, Morocco captivated their assumption to bend Nigeria in a affecting amends shoot-out, sending the hosts through to the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
It was a challenge authentic by accomplished margins, brainy backbone and goalkeeping heroics, with the home army arena its allotment as the Atlas Lions already afresh accepted absurd to breach down. Nigeria abandon with active captivated aerial afterwards addition able showing, but it is Morocco who booty the final step.
The aftereffect sets up a adorable AFCON final: Morocco vs Senegal — a affray amid the hosts block a celebrated additional appellation and a Senegalese ancillary bent to accost continental supremacy afterwards their semi-final achievement over Egypt beforehand in the day.
This clash continues to bear top-class, nail-biting football, breadth every bout keeps admirers on the bend of their seats and every moment feels decisive.
Thank you for blockage with us for this blood-tingling semi-final night. Join us afresh for abounding advantage of the AFCON 2025 final, breadth African football’s better award-winning will be absitively beneath the Moroccan lights.
MATCH SUMMARY
Morocco 0–0 Nigeria (AET) Morocco win 4-2 on penalties
The hosts advance on to the final, agitated by belief, conduct and the barrage of Rabat. Nigeria bow out afterwards a adventuresome campaign, baffled by accomplished margins on the better stage.
Stay with us for post-match acknowledgment and abounding accession to Sunday’s final.
PENALTY SHOOT-OUT ENDS
Morocco win the action and authorize for the AFCON 2025 FINAL
Bounou emerges as the hero already afresh as Morocco ascendancy their nerve, while Nigeria are larboard crestfallen afterwards a action abounding with brawl and absent chances. 22:40 GMT – PENALTY SHOOT-OUT BEGINS
Morocco win the bung and accept to shoot first, with the Rabat army in abounding voice.
⚽ PENALTY SHOOT-OUT – SEMI-FINAL DECIDER
Morocco vs Nigeria | Rabat
After 120 account of aimless football, the semi-final is absitively from the amends spot. Nerves, burden and history collide.
⚽ PENALTY SHOOT-OUT TO FOLLOW
A abode in the AFCON 2025 final will be absitively from the spot. Breach with us as brawl alcove its aiguille in Rabat. Bang actuality for the annual of the amends shootout.
22:33 GMT ⏹️ END OF EXTRA TIME (120’)
Morocco 0–0 Nigeria (AET)
After 120 account of arresting semi-final football, the deadlock charcoal unbroken. Neither Morocco nor Nigeria accept activate the absolute moment, and the bout will now be acclimatized by the ultimate analysis of assumption and composure…
22:30 GMT
Nigeria accomplish a backward push, active advanced with intent, but Morocco’s arresting organisation holds firm. Astriction is apparent central the stadium.
22:25 GMT
The bold stretches hardly now. Spaces are aperture up, but controlling in the final third charcoal cautious, with neither ancillary accommodating to accident everything.
22:17 GMT – EXTRA TIME RESUMES
The additional aeon of added time begins. Morocco access the tempo, analysis an befalling to bang afore penalties loom.
EXTRA TIME – SECOND HALF ⏸️ END OF EXTRA TIME – FIRST HALF (105’)
Still no breakthrough. The teams arch into the abbreviate breach with aggregate to comedy for in the final 15 minutes.
22:10 GMT
Nigeria adore a abrupt spell of pressure, acceptable a corner, but Morocco bright their curve well. Goalkeepers at both ends abide abundantly untested.
22:03 GMT
Early signs of fatigue are arresting on both sides. Morocco broadcast ascendancy patiently, while Nigeria sit compact, accessible to bounce advanced on transitions.
21:58 GMT – EXTRA TIME KICKS OFF
The aboriginal aeon of added time is underway. Morocco restart, apprenticed on by a amorous Rabat crowd, while Nigeria attending composed, absorption activity and structure.
EXTRA TIME – FIRST HALF ⏱️ FULL-TIME (90’) – END OF REGULATION TIME
Morocco 0–0 Nigeria
The adjudicator assault for abounding time in Rabat and afterwards 90 tense, appropriate and arresting minutes, annihilation separates hosts Morocco and Nigeria. Both abandon accept pushed, probed and dedicated with discipline, but assured affairs accept been bound as the semi-final lives up to its high-stakes billing.
We are branch into added time to adjudge who books a abode in Sunday’s AFCON final.
21:52
Final account of adjustment time. Both benches are animated, advancement their players on. Fatigue begins to show, but the acuteness charcoal aerial as neither ancillary is accommodating to accept ground.
21:50
The astriction central the amphitheater is apparent as we access the final stages. Morocco advance numbers forward, while Nigeria abide to attending alarming whenever amplitude opens up on the counter.
21:40
Morocco columnist relentlessly, acceptable addition set allotment in a able area. Nigeria abide resilient, assuming the arresting bendability that has agitated them through the tournament.
21:30
The bout becomes added concrete as both teams action acutely in midfield. Fouls agitate the rhythm, underlining the aerial stakes of this semi-final with a abode in the final on the line.
21:20
Morocco with a alarming transition. Diaz drives forward, banishment Nigeria’s defence into a abrupt clearance. The Atlas Lions are alpha to faculty moments breadth they can aching the Super Eagles
21:10
Morocco access the pressure, affective the brawl quicker and addition Nigeria’s arresting block. Brahim Díaz looks active amid the lines, while Nigeria delay patiently for counter-attacking opportunities.
SECOND HALF 21:03 – SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
The additional bisected gets underway with no changes from either side. Morocco restart, already afresh blame advanced with absorbed as Nigeria breach bunched and alert.
⏸️ 20:50 – HALF-TIME
Half-time in Rabat with the semi-final carefully balanced. Morocco accept bedeviled possession, while Nigeria accept apparent blackmail on the break. Aggregate charcoal accessible as the teams arch into the bathrobe rooms.
20:45
A abutting end to the aboriginal bisected approaches. Morocco columnist higher, apprenticed on by the crowd, but Nigeria’s aback band holds its nerve. Affairs abide bound as both abandon prioritise ascendancy over risk.
20:40
Nigeria abound into the contest. Lookman finds pockets of amplitude amid the lines, while Alex Iwobi begins to access affairs in midfield. Morocco babysitter Yassine Bounou charcoal abundantly composed so far.
20:30
The bounce rises. Morocco abide to probe, acceptable a alternation of set pieces, an breadth breadth they accept been decidedly able throughout the tournament. Nigeria abide calm, organised and accommodating in their arresting shape.
20:25
Nigeria annals the aboriginal allusive moment of the bout as Osimhen battles acerb in the box, but Morocco’s defence stands firm. The Atlas Lions acknowledge with a abrupt move bottomward the appropriate through Achraf Hakimi, banishment Nigeria to retreat.
20:20
Morocco are assertive the exchanges at this date but the Nigerian defence is able-bodied organised to baffle any attempts into their ambition areas. The midfield is absolutely bedeviled by Morocco with the absence of Ndidi accepting an affect on the Super Eagles midfield. 20:10
Early exchanges see Morocco adequate added of the ball, patiently circulating ascendancy beyond midfield. Nigeria are bunched and disciplined, attractive to blot burden and bounce advanced quickly.
20:00 – KICK-OFF
We are underway in Rabat as hosts Morocco and Nigeria’s Super Eagles bang off this ample AFCON semi-final. The atmosphere central the Prince Moulay Abdellah Amphitheater is electric, with the home army in abounding articulation as both abandon activate cautiously. You can chase the alive annual updates by beat here.
LIVE BLOG | SEMI-FINAL
Morocco vs Nigeria – TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat ⏰ All times GMT
FULL-TIME – SENEGAL 1–0 EGYPT
Senegal are through to the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 afterwards binding Egypt 1–0 in a abutting and arresting semi-final in Tangier.
The absolute moment accustomed through Sadio Mané, whose ambition accepted abundant to abstracted two continental heavyweights in a bout authentic by discipline, appropriate ascendancy and accomplished margins.
Egypt pushed adamantine for an equaliser, cartoon on their brand animation and experience, but Senegal’s organisation and accord saw them assure their attenuate advantage until the final whistle.
It is addition account achievement from the ascendant champions, who abide their best run at the clash and affirm their abode amid Africa’s aristocratic with a fourth final actualization in contempo editions.
For Egypt, the dream of an eighth AFCON appellation ends here, afterwards a adventuresome attack that included the affecting abolishment of holders Côte d’Ivoire in the quarter-finals.
Absorption now turns to the additional semi-final afterwards tonight, as hosts Morocco face Nigeria in Rabat, with the final admission to Sunday’s showpiece still to be decided. Breach with us for connected alive coverage.
18:45 GMT
The Teranga Lions are blame for added goals as they are acute advanced for added opportunities.
18:40 GMT – GOALLLL SENEGAL
Goal! Senegal 1, Egypt 0.
The deadlock has been burst with Sadio Mane putting the Teranga Lions in the advance in Tangiers. Mané denticulate with right-footed attack from alfresco the box to the basal larboard corner. 18:30 GMT
The bout is stil counterbalanced with b oth abandon accepting their opportunioties but none has been able to acquisition the net.
18:20 GMT
The bout is counterbalanced and the Egyptians are growing added assured as they seek to abaft the Senegalese defence. Still goalless.
18:05 GMT – SECOND HALF
It is the alpha of the additional bisected and both abandon are acquisitive to get the advance to win the match.
17:50 GMT – HALF-TIME
It is half-time in Tangiers breadth is it aimless at half-time.
17:40 GMT – KICK OFF
We are accepting abutting the the half-time mark of the bold with Senegal assertive the exchanges while Egypt additionally proving actual difficult to exploit. 17:30 GMT – KICK OFF
Senegal accomplish addition attack at goal. Habib Diarra with a right-footed attack from alfresco the box is adored in the basal appropriate bend by Mohamed El Shenawy. 17:20 GMT – KICK OFF
Injury to Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly and he has been sitting on the angle while accepting medical attention. Mamadou Sarr replaces Kalidou Koulibaly because of the injury. 17:10 GMT – KICK OFF
Senegal accept bedeviled the aboriginal exchanges but no bright adventitious at ambition afterwards ten account of play. 17:00 GMT – KICK OFF
The bout is underway. Senegal gets the bout underway. If you appetite to chase the alive annual bang here.
16:50 GMT – KICK OFF
The bout is underway. Senegal gets the bout underway. If you appetite to chase the alive annual click
16:30 GMT
Official line-ups are actuality finalised. Senegal are accepted to absorb the ancillary that belted Mali 1–0, while Egypt may reshuffle hardly afterward their high-energy quarter-final victory.
16:20 GMT
Coaches Pape Thiaw and Hossam Hassan accept both fatigued conduct and affecting control. Semi-finals at AFCON are generally absitively by accomplished margins — backbone could be as important as flair.
16:10 GMT
Warm-ups activate on the pitch. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané are both out early, cartoon the loudest reactions from the army — two icons set to backpack the hopes of their nations already again.
16:00 GMT
Team buses access at the amphitheater to loud receptions. Senegal stick with their Tangier base, while Egypt accomplish the cruise arctic from Agadir, acquisitive biking fatigue plays no allotment in tonight’s showdown.
15:50 GMT
This animosity is carefully balanced. Senegal and Egypt accept won two AFCON matches apiece in antecedent meetings, with one draw. Their best contempo appointment — the 2021 final — concluded aimless afore Senegal prevailed on penalties.
15:40 GMT
Pitch analysis advancing in Tangier. Conditions are accomplished — a air-conditioned black expected, ideal for high-intensity football. The apparent looks immaculate, ambience the date for a high-quality contest.
15:30 GMT
A admonition of the stakes: the champ today advances to Sunday’s AFCON final. Senegal are block addition final actualization afterwards their 2021 triumph, while Egypt are hunting a record-extending eighth title.
15:20 GMT
Both teams are acclimatized in their corresponding camps. Senegal access best in the tournament, while Egypt appear in buoyed by their affecting 3–2 win over holders Côte d’Ivoire in the quarter-finals.
15:10 GMT
Fans from both nations are steadily accession about the Grande Stade de Tangier. Senegalese supporters accompany colour and rhythm, while Egyptian admirers acknowledge with flags and chants, creating an electric pre-match backdrop.
15:00 GMT – Alive advantage begins
Good afternoon from Tangier. The atmosphere is already architecture advanced of today’s aboriginal semi-final as Senegal and Egypt adapt to renew one of African football’s best acute rivalries. A abode in the AFCON final is at stake.
LIVE BLOG – SENEGAL v EGYPT (Semi-final)
TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Tangier | Kick-off: 17:00 GMT ⏱️ Alive advantage starts now – all times GMT
15:00 GMT: Good afternoon and acceptable to our alive blog advantage of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 semi-finals, breadth African football alcove its best absolute and affecting stage.
Today, Wednesday 14 January 2026, the antagonism delivers two blockbuster last-four encounters as four giants action for a abode in the final, with all admission times listed in GMT.
The adventure to this point has been acute and unforgiving, with a blood-tingling accumulation date that saw acceptable heavyweights advance their authority, abruptness bales acceleration to the occasion, and accomplished margins adjudge who progressed and who angled out early.
That drive has agitated into the knockout rounds, bearing affecting backward goals, extra-time battles and amends shoot-outs that accept accent the affection and competitiveness of this tournament.
This afternoon, Senegal and Egypt renew one of Africa’s best acclaimed rivalries in Tangier at 17:00 GMT, afore hosts Morocco face Nigeria beneath the lights in Rabat at 20:00 GMT.
We will accompany you minute-by-minute updates in alive blog format, starting able-bodied advanced of kick-off, allegorical you through the build-up, key moments and absolute axis credibility as the chase for continental celebrity intensifies.