Former international, Waidi Akanni says the Super Eagles failed to prepare for penalty shootout in their defeat to Morocco.
The Atlas Lions edged out the Super Eagles 4-2 on penalities in their semi-final encounter in Rabat on Thursday night.
Both teams could not be separated after 120 minutes of football.
Morocco converted four of their five spot kicks, while the Super Eagles scored two from four.
Samuel Chukwueze, and Bruno Onyemaechi missed for Nigeria.
Akanni said the Super Eagles didn’t envisage the game going into penalty.
“Lack of preparedness cost the Super Eagles the penalty shootout against Morocco.
“Again, this is all football, and there is nothing the players can do about it,” Akanni told Afrosports.
Nigeria will battle the Pharaohs of Egypt for third position on Saturday.