Why Nigeria lost to Morocco – Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has shared his insights regarding Nigeria's heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Morocco in the semifinal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Malian tactician watched in agony as the Super Eagles fell 4-2 on penalties to hosts Morocco after 120 tense, goalless minutes at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

It was the kind of match many had predicted; tight, tactical, nervy and one that lived up to its billing as a heavyweight clash.

Morocco, pushed on by a partisan crowd, had started with intent, forcing Nigeria into early concentration. A mistake from Semi Ajayi almost proved costly, and Brahim Diaz later sent a curling effort narrowly wide. Yet Nigeria grew into the contest, with Ademola Lookman testing Yassine Bounou from distance and Victor Osimhen’s relentless pressing causing moments of panic in the home defence.

Chances remained scarce and margins fine. Stanley Nwabali kept Nigeria level with a series of smart saves, while Calvin Bassey and his defensive partners stood firm against Youssef En-Nesyri and Ayoub El Kaabi. Morocco thought they had a penalty, but VAR waved away the appeals. Extra time brought more effort than clarity, and when neither side could find a breakthrough, penalties became unavoidable.

There, Bounou emerged as the decisive figure, saving two Nigerian spot-kicks. Misses from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi proved fatal, even though Nwabali himself produced a superb one-handed save in the shoot-out. Morocco converted four of their kicks to book a place in the final against Senegal, while Nigeria were left to contemplate what might have been.

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Eric Chelle on the reasons for Nigeria’s defeat

In the aftermath, Eric Chelle did not hide his disappointment and pain, but he was determined to point out the character his players had shown.

“The match was never easy, but the players showed strong mentality and fought for every ball,” he said.

The coach explained that Nigeria’s game plan had been built around aggression without the ball, a deliberate attempt to prevent Morocco from settling into their rhythm.

“We pressed high because if you don’t press, you leave spaces and the situation becomes very complicated,” Eric Chelle stated.

Yet he also admitted that his team did not quite reach the technical level they had shown earlier in the tournament.

“Technically, we were not at the level of our previous matches. I won’t blame fatigue, but we lacked movement and power,” Eric Chelle said.

Even so, there was much to admire in Nigeria’s resilience. Bassey’s authority at the back and Nwabali’s composure in goal kept the Super Eagles alive deep into the night, and for long spells they matched Morocco stride for stride in a contest defined more by caution than by fluency.

The immediate task for Chelle is now psychological as much as tactical. Nigeria must lift themselves for Saturday’s third-place play-off against Egypt in Casablanca, after the Pharaohs were beaten 1-0 by Senegal in the other semi-final, decided by a late Sadio Mané strike.

“We worked hard throughout the tournament. This is football, and we must continue working,” Chelle said.

The Super Eagles last won the AFCON in 2013 and will now wait until 2027 to get another chance at lifting the continent’s biggest prize.