Bounou: 'We Were Smart Against Nigeria, Penalties Secured Win Over Strong Opponent'

Yassine Bounou, the Moroccan national team's goalkeeper, affirmed that the Africa Cup semi-final against Nigeria was evenly contested, commending his teammates' role in the match.

Following the game, Bounou stated in a televised interview: "I want to congratulate all the players because they put in a great performance. On the other side, we faced a formidable Nigerian team. We were very intelligent and knew how to hold out for sixty-five minutes until the Nigerian team showed signs of physical fatigue. At that point, we were able to impose our style of play more effectively."

He added: "They are a tough team to confront and not an easy opponent. Ultimately, I believe the match was somewhat balanced, and it was the penalty shootout that secured our victory."