Heartbreak!! Morocco beats Nigeria on penalties to reach AFCON final.
Nigeria returned to the scene of their FIFA World Cup penalty shootout heartbreak from last November, and were once again turned back in tears after losing 4-2 to hosts Morocco in the semifinal of the African Cup of Nations.
Stanley Nwabali gave Nigeria an early advantage in the shootout when he saved from local boy Hamza Igmane, but misses from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi meant that Youssef En-Nesyri’s conversion handed the Atlas Lions progress to the Final where they will face Senegal.
It is just over eight weeks ago that the Super Eagles fell in a penalty shootout to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the FIFA World Cup Playoff Final at the same venue, losing out in sudden death after 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time.
Despite the best efforts of both teams this time, defence triumphed and there were no goals in regulation and extra time, and the game went to penalties, which the Super Eagles again succumbed to.
The outcome means that for the eighth time in 17 attempts, Nigeria fall at the semifinal hurdle, a troubling statistic for both team and country.
Ndidi absence felt
Whatever Wilfred Ndidi was thinking when he picked up that yellow card for time-wasting against Algeria, it is clear it was a bad idea. Injured and being subbed off, the Nigeria captain took his time, and got himself in the referee’s book as a result.
That booking came home to roost big time against Morocca. Eric Sekou Chelle was forced to make one adjustment in his starting lineup bringing in Raphael Onyedika to start where Ndidi usually plays, in front of the defence.
That was a bit of a surprise because of the different profiles of both players, especially in relation to the tactical formation favoured by Chelle. His diamond midfield structure requires a disciplined holding midfielder at the base of the diamond.
One who can not just read and break up the play, but also be a quick-release outlet for keeping possession circulating and getting the team to progress the ball. While Ndidi is good at this, keeping the ball moving with simple passes, Onyedika is not quite at the same level. His first instinct is usually to take a couple of touches and try to dribble past a man, or two.
