´We need to change our DNA´, says Morocco coach Regragui

Walid Regragui wants Morocco to become better when the pressure is truly on after his team edged into the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Morocco, who were World Cup semi-finalists in Qatar in 2022, made home advantage count as they reached the AFCON final for the first time since they finished as runners-up in 2004.

After a 0-0 draw against Nigeria, Yassine Bounou proved to be Morocco’s hero in the penalty shoot-out as he saved efforts from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, paving the way for Youssef En-Nesyri to convert the winning spot-kick.

Morocco will now take on Senegal in Sunday’s showpiece match, and Regragui wants to see his team step up and handle the pressure.

He said: “We came up against a very solid team. We still have room for improvement. We have a fighting spirit, a desire to play for the jersey. It has always been my objective to instil that.

“We need to change our DNA. We need to get used to playing in the semi-finals. The more consistent we are, the more titles we can win.

“What interests me is self-esteem. It can be perceived as arrogance. I don’t expect people to give me anything.

“No one can erase what I’ve done before. The most important thing is that Morocco is in the final. I need to focus on bringing it home together.

“It’s a superb final with the best African teams of the last three years. A fantastic team and golden people, brothers of Morocco. It’s a superb match-up.”

2 – Nigeria’s 2 shots tonight is their lowest total in an AFCON match since Opta records began; their last shot of the game came in the 51st minute. Mute. pic.twitter.com/W2VykGMxLh

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 14, 2026

Morocco’s only AFCON triumph came 50 years ago, in 1976.

Sunday’s meeting with Senegal will also mark the first time the nations have gone head-to-head at the tournament.

Wednesday’s semi-final was hardly a classic, with Morocco having the better of the chances but failing to create good opportunities, tallying up only 0.8 expected goals (xG) from their 16 attempts.

Nigeria, however, had just two shots, which is their lowest total in an AFCON match since Opta began recording such data, with their last shot coming in the 51st minute.

“The match was never easy, but the players showed a strong mental response and fought for every ball,” said Nigeria coach Eric Chelle.

“Losing on penalties is very painful. It’s difficult because we worked hard throughout the entire tournament, but that’s football. We must continue working.

“We played this match with high pressing, because if you don’t press, you leave spaces and the situation becomes very complicated. From a technical point of view, we were not at the same level we showed in other matches.

“I don’t want to say the reason was fatigue, but the truth is that we lacked movement and power.”