Bounou, the 34-year-old Al Hilal shot-stopper and Morocco's undisputed No.1, was named TotalEnergies Man of the Match for his clutch heroics. The game was a defensive masterclass from both teams, with Morocco dominating possession but struggling to break down Nigeria's stubborn backline led by Calvin Bassey. Chances were few and far between – Ademola Lookman forced an early save from Bounou, while Ayoub El Kaabi and Brahim Díaz came close for the hosts – but neither side could find the net in regulation or extra time.
The drama exploded in the penalty shootout. Nigeria's Stanley Nwabali saved Hamza Igamane's effort to give the Super Eagles a brief edge, but Bounou flipped the script with world-class stops. He denied Samuel Chukwueze low to his left, then pulled off an astonishing, almost acrobatic save on Bruno Onyemaechi – diving one way but stretching back the other to palm away a central effort. Youssef En-Nesyri stepped up to smash home the decisive kick, sparking wild celebrations among the 65,458 mostly home fans and sending the streets of Rabat into frenzy.
Bounou's post-match words summed up the grit: “The team needed me, and I stepped up. By the grace of God, things went smoothly for us.” He echoed the sentiment in press conferences, sharing the joy with Moroccan journalists who gave him a standing ovation as he arrived.
This victory marks Morocco's first AFCON final appearance in 21 years and keeps alive their dream of lifting the trophy for the first time since 1976 – on home soil, no less. Walid Regragui's side, unbeaten in 26 matches stretching back to the 2023 AFCON, showed resilience and composure under immense pressure as hosts.
Bounou, already a national icon after his penalty-saving exploits at the 2022 World Cup (where he earned Man of the Match honors twice), proved once again why he's one of the world's best goalkeepers in high-stakes moments. His two shootout saves were the difference in a game Nigeria controlled at times but couldn't convert.
Now, all eyes turn to Sunday's final against Senegal – the 2021 champions led by Sadio Mané – in what promises to be an epic clash between Africa's top two ranked sides. Morocco enters as favorites with the home advantage, but they'll need every bit of Bono's magic to end their 50-year wait for continental glory.
What a night for the Atlas Lions! Bounou didn't just win Man of the Match – he became the hero a nation will never forget. Dima Maghrib!