Who: Nigeria vs Morocco
Content: CAF Africa Cup of Nations
Location: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco
Date and time: Wednesday 9pm (20:00 GMT)
How to follow: All content will be broadcast on Al Jazeera Sports from 17:00 GMT, ahead of the text commentary stream.
Nigeria is moving ever closer to being the team to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as the Super Eagles made it to the semi-finals as the only team with an unbeaten record in the competition.
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Standing between the two countries in their quest to advance to the finals is Morocco, the host country, the top African nation and a 2022 World Cup semi-finalist, supported by the support and expectations of their home countries.
For Nigeria, this AFCON campaign has the weight of relief from the heartbreaking loss of missing out on this year’s World Cup. For Morocco, the pressure is even heavier to win the trophy in front of their own fans, 50 years after they last won the continent.
There were questions about whether the Atlas Lions could carry that burden, but they are firmly on track. This is Morocco’s first appearance in the AFCON semi-finals since 2004, and there is growing belief that history may finally be rewritten.
Here’s what you need to know about Nigeria vs. Morocco.
How did Nigeria reach the AFCON semi-finals?
Nigeria passed Group C in first place by winning all three of their opening games.
In the quarterfinals, they defeated powerful Mozambique 4-0, then defeated Algeria 2-0 to advance to the semifinals.
The Super Eagles are the only semi-finalists to win all five matches and have reached the semi-finals 17 times in the last 20 tournaments in which they have qualified. They are also the top scorers in this tournament, scoring 14 goals in five games.
How did Morocco reach the semi-finals?
Morocco made it through Group A undefeated, earning seven points with two wins and one draw.
They started the tournament with a 1-0 win over Tanzania in the round of 16 and defeated five-time champions Cameroon 2-0 in the quarter-finals.
The Atlas Lions reached the AFCON semifinals for the first time since losing to Tunisia in the final in 2004, when coach Walid Reglagui was on the team.
“It’s historic. Moroccans haven’t seen their team reach the semi-finals of AFCON for 22 years,” Leglaghi said. “They deserve it, but we need to get our feet on the ground and make it even more historic.”
Who will the winner face in the AFCON final?
The winner of this match will face the winner of the first semi-final match between Senegal and Egypt.
Who is Nigeria’s best player?
Ademola Lookman, who was involved in seven goals (three goals and four assists), was Nigeria’s most effective player in the tournament, proving to be equally impactful as a playmaker and finisher. The London-born forward is in strong competition with Morocco’s Brahim Dias for the competition’s best player award.
Alongside Lookman, Nigeria defender Victor Osimhen remains a deadly threat, scoring four goals, including back-to-back goals in the Round of 16 and the quarter-finals. With 35 goals in 51 appearances for Nigeria, Osimhen is just two goals shy of the national team record of 37 goals held by the late Rashidi Yekini, a member of the Nigeria squad that won the 1994 AFCON and played in two World Cups.
Striker Eiko Adams has emerged as an unsung hero with two goals and two assists in the past two games, Alex Iwobi is pulling the strings in midfield and captain Wilfried Ndidi has similarly been influential as the midfield anchor.
Who is Morocco’s best player?
Diaz was undoubtedly the standout performer at AFCON 2025, scoring in each of his five appearances. The Real Madrid winger leads the competition’s scoring list with five goals, while his closest challengers, Nigeria’s Osimhen and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, both have four goals.
Described by coach Walid Legulagui as “the X-factor of my team”, Diaz made his AFCON debut in style, leaving viewers in awe of his talent.
In addition, striker Ayub El Kaabi also attracted attention with his acrobatic finishing, contributing to the strengthening of Morocco’s front line with two goals.
Achraf Hakimi, widely regarded as the world’s best right-back, missed the first two games of the group stage due to an ankle injury, but has since returned to full fitness and started consecutive games in the knockout stages.
Nigeria and Morocco form guide
(All competitions, latest results first):
Nigeria: WWWWW
Morocco: WWWWW
direct confrontation
Nigeria and Morocco have played against each other 11 times in the past, including official matches and friendlies.
In terms of head-to-head results, Morocco has a slight advantage with six wins, while Nigeria has won four times. One match ended in a draw.
When was the last time Nigeria and Morocco met?
The last time the two teams met was in February 2018 in the final of the African Nations Championship, commonly known as CHAN.
Morocco won the match 4-0, with current team member El Kaabi being one of the scorers.
The last AFCON meeting between Nigeria and Morocco was back in January 2004. In the group match, North Africa won 1-0.
Has Nigeria ever won an AFCON title?
yes. Nigeria has won the AFCON three times, winning in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Has Morocco ever won an AFCON title?
yes. Morocco won their first and only title in 1976. At the time, Morocco was only the second North African team to win the continental championship, after Egypt.
Nigeria team news
Nigeria head coach Eric Schell faces a major setback after captain Ndidi was suspended for the match after picking up a second yellow card during the knockout phase in the last game against Algeria. There were also doubts about his fitness as he sustained an injury in that match.
Osimhen is likely to take over the captain’s armband in the semi-finals.
Nigeria’s predicted lineup
Stanley Nwabari (goalkeeper); Bright Ossai-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyamaechi. Frank Onyedika, Rafael Onyedika, Alex Iwobi. Ademola Lookman. Ako Adams, Victor Osimhen
morocco team news
Midfielder Azzedine Ounahi has missed the tournament due to injury, but Reglagui will be concerned about the condition of Dias, who was forced off in the final stages of the final game with a serious thigh injury.
Morocco’s predicted lineup
Yassine Bounou (goalkeeper); Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Agelud, Adam Masina, Nousser Mazrawi. Bilal El Kannous, Nir El Ainaoui, Ismael Saibari. Brahim Dias, Ayoub El Kaabi, Abdessamad Ezarzouri
