‘We could have won the trophy’ - Osimhen hails his teammates despite disappointing loss to Morocco

The match, held in Rabat on Wednesday, ended in a goalless stalemate after 120 minutes of play, with Morocco ultimately advancing 4-2 in a penalty shootout.

Nigeria's aspiration for an AFCON final appearance was dashed in a penalty shootout, where the Moroccan goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, proved to be the hero by saving attempts from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi.

This defeat ended the Super Eagles' ambition of securing a second consecutive AFCON final berth, following their appearance in the 2023 AFCON final.

Speaking to the media after the game, the 27-year-old forward congratulated the host nation on their victory and commended his teammates for their performance against a formidable opponent supported by a passionate home crowd.

"A big congratulations to the Moroccans. I am proud of my team for the kind of fight we put up against a very good quality side, especially playing in front of thousands of their fans," he added.

Osimhen revealed that the mood in the Nigerian camp was somber, as the players believed they had the quality to win the entire tournament.

"The whole squad is sad and disappointed because I believe we could have won the trophy," he said, describing Morocco as one of the toughest opponents they faced.

He praised the Super Eagles' resilience in holding the Atlas Lions to a draw before the unpredictable nature of a shootout decided the contest.

"For us to play them and get to penalties, it shows the kind of strength we have as a group and as individuals. But penalties are a game of luck, and that's football," Osimhen concluded.

Nigeria will now prepare for the third-place playoff against Egypt on Saturday, where they will compete for the bronze medal.