Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has spoken of his pride and delight after guiding the Atlas Lions into the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The tournament hosts edged Nigeria 4–2 on penalties in a tense semifinal encounter on Wednesday night at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, after 120 minutes ended goalless.
Morocco largely controlled proceedings, limiting the Super Eagles to just two attempts over the course of the match. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou proved decisive in the shootout, making two vital saves to send the hosts through.
Regragui praised the collective effort behind the victory and acknowledged the emotional support from home fans.
“I thank everyone who supported us. We received very touching messages, and they had a big impact on us. I thank our players—we are very proud of them—and I also thank the Moroccan fans who truly deserve this achievement,” Regragui said after the game.
The coach admitted the semifinal took a heavy physical toll on his side but described reaching the final on home soil as a special moment.
“We suffered a lot, and reaching the Africa Cup of Nations final on home soil is a beautiful gift. Now we must think about physical recovery quickly because we made a huge effort. We played extra time, the match was difficult, and it consumed a lot of energy.”
He also paid tribute to the opposition, commending Nigeria’s performance despite the narrow defeat.
“I congratulate the Nigerian national team and coach Eric Chelle for the great work they have done, and I congratulate our players and fans as well, because we all fought together without exception,” he added.
Morocco will face Senegal in Sunday’s final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, while Nigeria will take on Egypt in the third-place playoff in Casablanca on Saturday.
