Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has opened up about Nigeria’s painful semi-final exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following a penalty shootout defeat against Morocco.
Reflecting on the grueling nature of the encounter, the winger noted that the match took a significant mental and physical toll on the entire squad.
“It was a tough game. We played 120 minutes. It was a tough game, but losing on penalties makes it even harder,” Lookman told reporters.
The former Everton man also acknowledged the quality of the opposition, citing Morocco’s technical proficiency as a deciding factor in the match’s outcome.
“I think it is a strong team. At the end of the day, we went to penalties,” he added.
Focus Shift to Third-Place PlayoffWhen asked about the upcoming bronze-medal match against Egypt, Lookman admitted that the sting of the semi-final loss was still too fresh to focus on the next challenge.
“To be honest, I haven’t really thought about it, not really thought about that to be honest. Obviously because of the disappointment,” he confessed.
Nigeria will look to conclude their tournament on a high note when they face Egypt this Saturday.
The fixture offers the Super Eagles a chance to bounce back from their Moroccan heartbreak and secure a podium finish.