The Atlas Lions booked their place in the final for the first time since 2004, edging out the Super Eagles 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who plays for Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, was the hero of the shootout, saving two crucial penalties from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi. Forward Youssef En-Nesyri converted the decisive kick to secure Morocco’s historic victory.
Regragui praised the semi-final performance but acknowledged areas for improvement ahead of the final. “They (Nigeria) are an athletic team; they ran a lot. But they had two shots, one of which was on target. It just goes to show we’ve been talking about defence for three years now,” he said.
He added that the win was a collective effort: “Today is a victory for everyone. Recovery will begin so that we are ready mentally and physically.”
Looking ahead to the final against Senegal, who reached the final after defeating Egypt 1-0 in Tangier, Regragui said: “It’s a superb final with the best African teams of the last three years. A fantastic team and a golden people, brothers of Morocco. It’s a fifty-fifty tie. It’s the first time we’ve faced them in a final.”
Despite the win, Regragui stressed the need for continuous improvement: “We came up against a very solid team. We still have room for improvement. We need a fighting spirit, a desire to play for the jersey. The more consistent we are, the more titles we can win.”
The AFCON final will be played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Sunday, where Morocco will aim to claim continental glory for the first time in nearly two decades.