Nigeria, April 16 -- In a night that had everything but goals in regulation time, tactical brilliance, end-to-end intensity, and nail-biting drama, hosts Morocco held their nerve to edge Cote d'Ivoire 4-3 on penalties and book a ticket to the grand finale of the tournament.

The North Africans will now battle a resurgent Mali side, who cruised past Burkina Faso earlier in the day with an emphatic 2-0 win. With a title on the line and pride at stake, Saturday's final on 19 April promises fireworks.

In what proved to be a pulsating semifinal encounter, Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire played out a 0-0 draw across 90 minutes marked by tactical discipline, fierce duels, and a flurry of squandered chances. While both teams created several openings, ...