Youssef En-Nesyri struck the decisive spot kick in the shootout as Morocco dispatched Nigeria 4-2 on penalties following a 0-0 draw in Rabat on Wednesday to set up a final meeting with Senegal on Sunday.

The tournament hosts progress to their first final since 2004, where they were defeated by Tunisia, and keep alive hopes of a second ever victory in the continental competition, and a first triumph in 50 years.

They'll now meet 2021 champions Senegal, who prevailed 1-0 over Egypt in Tanger earlier on Wednesday to reach their third final of the last four AFCONs.

Despite Hamza Igamane missing his penalty in the shootout for the hosts, Yacine Bounou saved from Samuel Chukwueze and nervous Bruno Onyemeachi before substitute En-Nesyri beat Nwabali to send the capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the country's capital into jubilant celebration.

Morocco had made the most of their possession during the first half, putting pressure on the visitors -- in conjunction with a furious home support -- during the opening moments, as Nigeria twice lost the ball with sloppy passing at the back, Abde Ezzalzouli snapping in to steal in ahead of Semi Ajayi, only for the West Bromwich Albion centreback to tackle back and deny him a scoring opportunity.

It could have been a sign of things to come, although steadily, Nigeria settled, with Calvin Bassey pinging balls around with his left foot, Alex Iwobi beginning to exert some influence, and Bright Osayi-Samuel a thrusting presence down Nigeria's right.

After four minutes, the Birmingham City wingback was felled in the Morocco box after being picked out by a gorgeous Iwobi ball, although the referee waved away Nigeria's penalty claims.

The first opening fell to Brahim Díaz, seeking to become the first player since 1965 to score in six consecutive Nations Cup matches, as he cut in from the right flank past Onyemeachi and sent a curling effort just wide of Stanley Nwabali's right post with the keeper rooted.

Five minutes later, Nigeria had their only shot of the first half as Iwobi found Ademola Lookman with a sumptuous ball after the Super Eagles had played through the lines and prised the hosts open. Finding an opening, Lookman fired low, but his strong effort was palmed away by Bounou down to the goalkeeper's right.

Morocco, appearing increasingly comfortable amidst the overwhelming expectation from the stands, went close just before the half-hour mark, when Ajayi hooked away amidst a goalmouth scramble, while Diaz sent another effort wide -- this time an angled header -- soon afterwards after being found by Achraf Hakimi.

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On 31 minutes, Diaz tumbled to the ground on the edge of the Nigeria box after losing a footrace to Bassey, despite having a fistful of the Super Eagle's shirt; the referee deemed that the Fulham defender had used an arm in Diaz's face -- despite replays indicating it wasn't the case -- and issued him an unjust yellow card that would have kept him out of the final.

Hakimi sent the resulting freekick onto the roof of the net, as an emotional Bassey continued to protest his innocence.

Ismael Saibari, swivelling away from Osayi-Samuel, shot at Nwabali late in the half, as a pulsating first 45 minutes came to a close with the hosts looking the more likely to draw first blood.

The first clear effort of the second period, however, fell to Nigeria, as Raphael Onyedika -- in for suspended captain Wilfred Ndidi -- scuffed an effort from outside the box into the ground and horribly wide after Morocco failed to clear an Onyemeachi cross. It was a let off for the Atlas Lions, particularly considering Onyedika had twice finished with aplomb in a similar scenario in the 3-2 group-stage victory over Tunisia.

Next, it was Morocco's turn, as the contest grew increasingly frenetic; Ezzalzouli, played clean through down Nigeria's left by Saibari, lacked conviction with a curling finish that Nwabali pawed away, although the Super Eagles were left protesting a foul on Lookman in the build-up which had gone unpunished by Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea.

With Morocco fully in their flow, Bassey made a brilliant intervention to nab the ball off Ayoub El Kaabi's foot as the Olympiacos striker -- with two goals already this tournament -- shaped up to score after being found by Mazraoui's cross, although it was a sign of things to come, with the Lions increasingly finding pockets of space and benefiting from pushing bodies forward in attack.

As Morocco began to lose some steam in attack, Nigeria grew into the contest, with Iwobi seeing more of the ball, only for moves to break down at the feet of Onyemeachi and then Akor Adams.

The biggest flashpoint of the match came 12 minutes from time, as Hakimi sent a thunderous shot at Bassey which appeared to deflect off his thigh then hit his wrist, prompting furious and prolonged calls for a penalty from Moroccan supporters, players and technical stuff, only for the referee to staunchly reject any proposed VAR assessment.

On 82 minutes, Ezzalzouli was again denied by Nwabali with a curling effort, with neither side ultimately able to find the breakthrough before the '90.

And so into extra time, with Eric Chelle tweaking Nigeria's shape slightly with the introduction of Moses Simon for Onyedika, while Walid Regragui turned to fit-again Hamza Igamane for El Kaabi.

Nayef Aguerd, on the stretch, could only divert a Hakimi corner onto the frame of Nwabali's goal on 93 minutes, while Morocco served further notice of their brooding threat moments later as Igamane megged Frank Onyeka, advanced towards goal, but let himself down with a poor and wayward finish.

After picking up a knock, a fairly ineffective display from Victor Osimhen came to a close with five minutes to play as he was replaced by Paul Onuachu, while Morocco had one last opportunity to avoid penalties when Neil El Aynaoui struck from range into the grateful hands of Nwabali.

And so to penalties, where El Aynaoui and Onuachu each scored before Igamane's tame effort was saved by Nwabali to his right.

Substitute Chukwueze, a belated introduction in the 121st minute, had his poor penalty saved by Bounou before Elisse Ben Seghir, Fisayo Dele Bashiru and Hakimi all found the net.

A nervy Onyemeachi was then denied by Bounou's outstretched right hand, with the keeper not even needing to dive to the ground to block the fullback's effort, before El Nesyri converted to ensure the party continues here in Morocco.