Nigeria vs Morocco: CAN semi-final – team news, start time and line-up | Africa Cup of Nations News
WHO: Nigeria vs Morocco
What: CAF African Cup of Nations
Or: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco
When: Wednesday at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the news on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT ahead of our text commentary feed.
Nigeria are increasingly looking like the team to beat at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as the Super Eagles advanced to the semi-finals as the only team to maintain a perfect winning record in the tournament.
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Between them and a place in the final are hosts Morocco, Africa’s leading nation and 2022 World Cup semi-finalists, buoyed by home support and expectations.
For Nigeria, this AFCON campaign carries the weight of redemption after the heartbreak of missing this year’s World Cup. For Morocco, the pressure is even greater: to win the trophy in front of its own supporters, 50 years after its last continental triumph.
Questions remained about whether the Atlas Lions would be able to shoulder that burden, but they remain firmly on track. This is Morocco’s first participation in the CAN semi-final since 2004, and there is a growing belief that history could finally be rewritten.
Here’s everything you need to know about Nigeria vs Morocco:
How did Nigeria reach the CAN semi-finals?
Nigeria finished top of Group C, winning all three of their matches with a perfect record in the first round.
They beat minnows Mozambique 4-0 in the quarter-finals before beating Algeria 2-0 to reach the semi-finals.
The Super Eagles, the only semi-finalists to have won all five matches, have reached the semi-finals 17 times in the last 20 tournaments for which they have qualified. They are also the top scorers of this edition with 14 goals in five matches.
How did Morocco reach the semi-finals?
Morocco topped Group A with an unbeaten record, with two wins and a draw for seven points.
They began their knockout campaign with a 1-0 win over Tanzania in the round of 16 before beating five-time champions Cameroon 2-0 in the quarter-finals.
The Atlas Lions qualified for the CAN semi-finals for the first time since 2004, when they lost the final to Tunisia with coach Walid Regragui in the team.
“It’s historic. The Moroccans haven’t seen their team in the semi-final of a CAN for 22 years,” said Regragui. “They deserve it, but we have to keep our feet on the ground and make this event even more historic. »
Who will the winner face in the CAN final?
The winner of this match will face the winner of the first semi-final between Senegal and Egypt.
Who are the best players in Nigeria?
With seven goals (three goals and four assists), Ademola Lookman was the most effective Nigerian player at the tournament, proving equally influential as a playmaker and finisher. The London-born striker offers strong competition to Moroccan Brahim Diaz for the tournament’s best player award.
Alongside Lookman, Nigerian talisman Victor Osimhen remains a lethal threat, scoring four goals, including back-to-back goals in the round of 16 and quarter-finals. With 35 international goals in 51 appearances for Nigeria, Osimhen is just two goals away from equaling the national team record of 37 goals held by the late Rashidi Yekini, a member of the Nigeria team that won the 1994 AFCON and also played in two World Cups.
Striker Akor Adams has become an unsung hero, contributing two goals and two assists in the last two matches, while Alex Iwobi has pulled the strings in midfield and captain Wilfried Ndidi has been equally influential in anchoring the middle of the park.
Who are the best players in Morocco?
Diaz has arguably been the most notable player of AFCON 2025, scoring in each of his five appearances. With five goals, the Real Madrid winger leads the tournament’s goalscoring charts, with his closest rivals, Nigerian Osimhen and Egyptian Mohamed Salah, both on four goals.
Described by coach Walid Regragui as the “X-factor of my team”, Diaz marked his AFCON debut in style, leaving viewers in awe of his talent.
Elsewhere, striker Ayoub El Kaabi also caught the eye with his acrobatic performances, scoring two goals to strengthen the Moroccan front line.
Achraf Hakimi, widely regarded as the world’s best right-back, missed the first two group matches with an ankle injury but has since returned to full fitness, starting two consecutive matches in the knockout stage.
Nigeria and Morocco train guides
(All competitions, latest results first):
Nigeria: WWWWW
Morocco:WWWDW
Face to face
Nigeria and Morocco have met in 11 previous meetings, including competitive and friendly matches.
Morocco has a slight advantage in head-to-head record, winning six times, while Nigeria has won four times. One match ended in a draw.
When did Nigeria and Morocco last meet?
The teams last met in February 2018 in the final of the African Nations Championship, commonly known as CHAN.
Morocco won this match 4-0 and El Kaabi, from his current team, was one of the scorers.
The last CAN meeting between Nigeria and Morocco dates back to January 2004: a group match where the North Africans won 1-0.
Has Nigeria ever won an AFCON title?
Yes. Nigeria is a three-time CAN champion, winning in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Has Morocco ever won a CAN title?
Yes. Morocco won its first and only title in 1976. At that time, Morocco was only the second North African team to win the continental championship after Egypt.
Nigeria team news
Nigeria coach Eric Chelle faces a major setback as captain Ndidi is suspended for this match after receiving his second yellow card of the knockout stage in the last match against Algeria. His fitness was also in doubt after getting injured in that match.
Osimhen is expected to take over the captain’s armband for the semi-final.
The planned composition of Nigeria
alleel (sather (A it; Bright Osay-Samu, Sim Ajayi, Camily Basey Basey, Bruno Oymaechi; Fup OK, Radas Ohha, AlTlib, Alm God; Adamolo Law; August Adams, Victory Osimen
Morocco team news
Midfielder Azzedine Ounahi is out of the tournament due to injury, while coach Regragui will be sweating over Diaz’s fitness after he came off late in the match with a badly strained thigh.
The planned composition of Morocco
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
