Who: Nigeria vs Morocco
What: CAF Africa Cup of Nations
The place: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco
When: Wednesday at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
comply with: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT prematurely of our textual content commentary stream.
Nigeria are trying increasingly more just like the workforce to beat on the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), because the Tremendous Eagles soared into the semifinals as the one facet to take care of an ideal successful report on the match.
Really useful Tales
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Standing between them and a spot within the remaining are hosts Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked nation and 2022 World Cup semifinalists, buoyed by house help and expectation.
For Nigeria, this AFCON marketing campaign carries the burden of redemption after the heartbreak of lacking out on this 12 months’s World Cup. For Morocco, the strain is even heavier – to win the trophy in entrance of their very own followers, 50 years after their final continental triumph.
Questions had lingered over whether or not the Atlas Lions might shoulder that burden, however they continue to be firmly on target. This marks Morocco’s first AFCON semifinal look since 2004, and perception is rising that historical past might lastly be rewritten.
Right here’s every thing you should find out about Nigeria vs Morocco:
How did Nigeria attain the AFCON semifinals?
Nigeria completed on prime of Group C, successful all three video games with an ideal report within the opening spherical.
They thrashed minnows Mozambique 4-0 within the quarterfinals earlier than storming previous Algeria 2-0 to achieve the semifinals.
The Tremendous Eagles, the one semifinalists to have received all 5 matches, have reached the semifinals 17 instances within the final 20 tournaments they’ve certified for. They’re additionally this version’s prime scorers general with 14 targets in 5 matches.
How did Morocco attain the semifinals?
Morocco topped Group A with an unbeaten report, bagging two wins and a draw for seven factors.
They started their knockout marketing campaign with a 1-0 win over Tanzania within the spherical of 16 earlier than beating five-time champions Cameroon 2-0 within the quarterfinals.
The Atlas Lions have superior to the AFCON semifinals for the primary time since 2004, once they misplaced the ultimate to Tunisia with coach Walid Regragui within the workforce.
“It’s historic. Moroccans haven’t seen their workforce within the semifinals of an AFCON for 22 years,” Regragui mentioned. “They deserve it, however we have to hold our ft on the bottom and make it much more historic.”
Who will the winner face within the AFCON remaining?
The winner of this match will face the victor of the primary semifinal between Senegal and Egypt.
Who’re Nigeria’s finest gamers?
With seven aim involvements (three targets and 4 assists), Ademola Lookman has been Nigeria’s best participant on the match, proving equally influential as each playmaker and finisher. The London-born ahead is offering robust competitors to Morocco’s Brahim Diaz for the match’s finest participant award.
Alongside Lookman, Nigeria’s talisman Victor Osimhen stays a deadly menace, scoring 4 targets, together with back-to-back strikes within the spherical of 16 and quarterfinals. With 35 worldwide targets in 51 appearances for Nigeria, Osimhen is now simply two targets away from equalling the nationwide workforce report of 37 targets held by the late Rashidi Yekini, a member of the Nigerian facet that received the 1994 AFCON and in addition performed at two World Cups.
Striker Akor Adams has emerged as an unsung hero, contributing two targets and two assists within the final two matches, whereas Alex Iwobi has been pulling the strings in midfield, and captain Wilfried Ndidi has been equally influential in anchoring the center of the park.
Who’re Morocco’s finest gamers?
Diaz has arguably been the standout performer of AFCON 2025, scoring in every of his 5 appearances. With 5 targets, the Actual Madrid winger leads the match’s scoring charts, along with his closest challengers, Nigeria’s Osimhen and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, each on 4.
Described by coach Walid Regragui because the “X issue of my workforce”, Diaz has marked his AFCON debut in model, leaving viewers in awe of his expertise.
Elsewhere, striker Ayoub El Kaabi has additionally caught the attention along with his acrobatic finishes, contributing two targets to bolster Morocco’s entrance line.
Achraf Hakimi, extensively considered the world’s finest right-back, missed the primary two group matches on account of an ankle harm however has since returned to full health, beginning back-to-back matches within the knockout stage.
Nigeria and Morocco kind guides
(All competitions, newest outcomes first):
Nigeria: W-W-W-W-W
Morocco: W-W-W-D-W
Head-to-head
Nigeria and Morocco have met in 11 earlier encounters, together with each aggressive and pleasant matches.
Morocco have a slight edge within the head-to-head report, successful six instances, whereas Nigeria have received 4 instances. One match resulted in a draw.
When did Nigeria and Morocco final meet?
The groups final met in February 2018 within the remaining of the Africa Nations Championship, generally often known as CHAN.
Morocco received that sport 4-0, and El Kaabi, from their present squad, was one of many aim scorers.
Nigeria and Morocco’s final AFCON assembly dates again to January 2004: a bunch match by which the North Africans received 1-0.
Have Nigeria ever received an AFCON title?
Sure. Nigeria are three-time AFCON champions, successful in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Have Morocco ever received an AFCON title?
Sure. Morocco received their first and solely title in 1976. At the moment, Morocco have been solely the second North African workforce to win the continental championship after Egypt.
Nigeria workforce information
Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, faces a serious setback, as captain Ndidi is suspended for this match after accumulating his second yellow card of the knockout part within the final sport towards Algeria. His health had additionally been doubtful after he picked up an harm in that sport.
Osimhen is tipped to take over the captain’s armband for the semifinal.
Nigeria’s predicted lineup
Stanley Nwabali (goalkeeper); Vivid Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyamaechi; Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Alex Iwobi; Ademola Lookman; Akor Adams, Victor Osimhen
Morocco workforce information
Midfielder Azzedine Ounahi is out of the match with an harm, whereas coach Regragui might be sweating over Diaz’s health after he got here off late within the final sport with a closely strapped thigh.
Morocco’s predicted lineup
Yassine Bounou (goalkeeper); Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Adam Masina, Noussair Mazraoui; Bilal El Khannouss, Neil El Aynaoui, Ismael Saibari; Brahim Diaz, Ayoub El Kaabi, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli
