Rabat—Morocco are back in an AFCON final for the first time since 2004. The headlines after the semi-final win over Nigeria focused, understandably, on Yassine Bounou and his shootout heroics. Yet, across the tournament and once again over 120 minutes in Rabat, Neil El Aynaoui has quietly been one of Morocco’s most important players.
The 0–0 draw, settled by penalties, was a tight, tactical battle. Nigeria brought intensity and athleticism, but Morocco never lost control of the game. Much of that stability came from the man in the middle.
This performance did not come out of nowhere. Neil El Aynaoui has been one of the standout midfielders of this AFCON, imposing himself game after game. Earlier in the competition, he was already rewarded with a Man of the Match award against Mali, a game that perfectly summed up his influence: calm on the ball, strong defensively, always available as the link between defence and attack.
Since then, his role has only grown. He has become Morocco’s reference point in midfield and the player teammates look for when they need control, rhythm or reassurance.
Neil El Aynaoui vs Nigeria pic.twitter.com/kdlTFKB1Hv
— Packm 🔎•🎥 (@Packm34_) January 15, 2026
A true midfielder dictating the game
Against Nigeria, Morocco needed discipline and intelligence in midfield to neutralise pace and transitions. El Aynaoui delivered exactly that.
He has positioned himself as a natural shield in front of the back line, cutting passing lanes and limiting Nigeria’s ability to connect midfield runners with their wide attackers such as between Iwobi and Lookman. At the same time, he dictated the tempo, slowing the game when Morocco needed to breathe, speeding it up when space appeared.
Nigeria created very little chances over 120 minutes, and that was no coincidence. The AS Roma player’s reading of the game and positioning were central to Morocco’s control.
What has defined El Aynaoui’s AFCON is his completeness. Defensively, he wins duels, makes interceptions and tracks runners tirelessly. In possession, he is calm and intelligent, choosing the right moments to move forward and creating overloads in attack by stepping into advanced areas when space opens up.
Late in extra time, he nearly decided the match himself with a long-range strike—a reminder that, beyond control and balance, he also has real attacking intent.
When the semi-final went to penalties, pressure inside the stadium was immense, but El Aynaoui showed no hesitation.
Chosen as Morocco’s first penalty taker, he stepped up calmly and converted, setting the tone for the shootout.
At just 24, El Aynaoui is no longer just a promising talent. He is now one of the best midfielders of this AFCON, Morocco’s pivot, their tempo-setter, and the player who protects the defence while pushing the team forward.
While AS Roma is clearly shaping him,this tournament has been his true statement on the continental stage.
Morocco now prepare to face Senegal in the final on January 18 with a team that’s built on balance and control and Neil El Aynaoui is at the center of it all.
