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)
How you can comply with: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT upfront of our textual content commentary stream.
Nigeria are trying increasingly more just like the group 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 document on the match.
Advisable Tales
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Standing between them and a spot within the last are hosts Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked nation and 2022 World Cup semifinalists, buoyed by house assist 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 stress 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 may shoulder that burden, however they continue to be firmly heading in the right direction. This marks Morocco’s first AFCON semifinal look since 2004, and perception is rising that historical past may lastly be rewritten.
Right here’s every part you have to learn about Nigeria vs Morocco:
How did Nigeria attain the AFCON semifinals?
Nigeria completed on high of Group C, successful all three video games with an ideal document within the opening spherical.
They thrashed minnows Mozambique 4-0 within the quarterfinals earlier than storming previous Algeria 2-0 to succeed in the semifinals.
The Tremendous Eagles, the one semifinalists to have received all 5 matches, have reached the semifinals 17 occasions within the final 20 tournaments they’ve certified for. They’re additionally this version’s high scorers total with 14 objectives in 5 matches.
How did Morocco attain the semifinals?
Morocco topped Group A with an unbeaten document, 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 group.
“It’s historic. Moroccans haven’t seen their group within the semifinals of an AFCON for 22 years,” Regragui stated. “They deserve it, however we have to preserve our toes on the bottom and make it much more historic.”
Who will the winner face within the AFCON last?
The winner of this match will face the victor of the primary semifinal between Senegal and Egypt.
Who’re Nigeria’s greatest gamers?
With seven purpose involvements (three objectives and 4 assists), Ademola Lookman has been Nigeria’s only participant on the match, proving equally influential as each playmaker and finisher. The London-born ahead is offering sturdy competitors to Morocco’s Brahim Diaz for the match’s greatest participant award.
Alongside Lookman, Nigeria’s talisman Victor Osimhen stays a deadly menace, scoring 4 objectives, together with back-to-back strikes within the spherical of 16 and quarterfinals. With 35 worldwide objectives in 51 appearances for Nigeria, Osimhen is now simply two objectives away from equalling the nationwide group document of 37 objectives held by the late Rashidi Yekini, a member of the Nigerian facet that received the 1994 AFCON and likewise performed at two World Cups.
Striker Akor Adams has emerged as an unsung hero, contributing two objectives 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 greatest gamers?
Diaz has arguably been the standout performer of AFCON 2025, scoring in every of his 5 appearances. With 5 objectives, 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 group”, Diaz has marked his AFCON debut in fashion, leaving viewers in awe of his expertise.
Elsewhere, striker Ayoub El Kaabi has additionally caught the attention along with his acrobatic finishes, contributing two objectives to bolster Morocco’s entrance line.
Achraf Hakimi, extensively considered the world’s greatest right-back, missed the primary two group matches because 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 document, successful six occasions, whereas Nigeria have received 4 occasions. One match resulted in a draw.
When did Nigeria and Morocco final meet?
The groups final met in February 2018 within the last of the Africa Nations Championship, generally referred to as CHAN.
Morocco received that recreation 4-0, and El Kaabi, from their present squad, was one of many purpose scorers.
Nigeria and Morocco’s final AFCON assembly dates again to January 2004: a gaggle match wherein 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 group to win the continental championship after Egypt.
Nigeria group information
Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, faces a significant setback, as captain Ndidi is suspended for this match after gathering his second yellow card of the knockout part within the final recreation in opposition to Algeria. His health had additionally been unsure after he picked up an harm in that recreation.
Osimhen is tipped to take over the captain’s armband for the semifinal.
Nigeria’s predicted lineup
Stanley Nwabali (goalkeeper); Brilliant Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyamaechi; Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Alex Iwobi; Ademola Lookman; Akor Adams, Victor Osimhen
Morocco group information
Midfielder Azzedine Ounahi is out of the match with an harm, whereas coach Regragui shall be sweating over Diaz’s health after he got here off late within the final recreation 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
