Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali says he is proud of the team despite suffering defeat against Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final.
The Super Eagles’ title ambition hopes dashed on Wednesday after succumbing to a penalty shootouts defeat to Morocco after a pulsating goalless draw in both regular and extra-time.
The West African football heavyweights will now battle it out with Egypt in the third-place match, scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2026 at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.
“I know what it feels like when an entire nation experiences a disappointing night,” Nwabali said via his personal Instagram account. “After every game, there are other winners who learn the lessons.”
“The fans are learning, the players are learning, and so are the leaders. Together we will continue the building process.”
“We fought with everything we had in a stadium that holds 70,000 spectators. I am proud of this team even in defeat, because a bad game does not mean you are a bad player, and the scoreboard does not measure the size of the heart or the amount of effort given.”
Nwabali saved a penalty, while Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved two penalties to lead his country to the final for the first time since 2004.
This marks Morocco’s first AFCON finals since 2004, and their third history after 1988, while remain the nation with most semi-final defeat (9).
The Super Eagles have finished third 8 times in the history of the African Cup of Nations, while the Egyptian national team has won the bronze medal 3 times.
The two teams had previously met in the third-place match of the 1976 tournament, which was won by the Moroccan team.
