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Nigeria-Morocco preview
Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi has hailed the “brotherhood” Nigeria have built during the camp as the Super Eagles aim to continue their perfect run in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against host nation Morocco in Rabat on Wednesday.
The three-time champions won all five of their matches and kept clean sheets in their two knockout matches, beating Mozambique 4-0 in the round of 16 and Algeria 2-0 in the quarter-finals.
“The team has been so strong in previous CANs, but [we were] young and learning from each other,” Iwobi said, praising boss Eric Chelle.
“I feel like everyone is entering their prime now. There’s a big unity and a big family, and it starts with the coach as well as the players. It brings out the best in me and all the players.”
Moroccan coach Walid Regragui believes his players raised their level with the added motivation of facing their fellow Cameroonian in the quarter-finals, winning 2-0 with their most convincing performance so far and a fifth goal in five games from the tournament’s top scorer Brahim Diaz.
A finalist in 2004 with the Atlas Lions as a player, Regragui does not want to repeat what he saw as a 20-minute abandonment in their 1-0 victory over considerable underdogs Tanzania in the round of 16.
“We will have to be mentally strong, but a CAN semi-final requires you to increase your concentration and your level of running, not to allow Nigeria to breathe and come back into the match with their technical and athletic abilities. [abilities]», observes Regragui.
“It’s going to be a good test for [Morocco] also because I think they haven’t yet met a team like ours to see what they are really worth.
Nigeria-Morocco team news
Nigerian midfielder and captain Wilfred Ndidi is banned, so Raphael Onyedika, who scored twice in six second-half minutes in the 3-1 group stage win over Uganda on December 30, could come in.
Bright Osayi-Samuel is a doubt, with Slavia Prague centre-back Igoh Ogbu the most likely potential replacement for the Birmingham City player.
Ryan Alebiosu, who is arguably Osayi-Samuel’s natural replacement, has not played since he cut his foot on his debut for Nigeria against Uganda in their final group stage match on December 30.
Moroccan midfielder Azzedine Ounahi will miss the rest of the tournament with a calf injury, but Regragui said defender or midfielder Romain Saiss had returned to training for the first time since suffering a hamstring problem in the opening 2-0 win over Comoros on December 21.
Predicted line-up of Nigeria against Morocco
Nigeria starting lineup: Stanley Nwabali, Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Alex Iwobi, Victor Osimhen, Akor Adams, Ademola Lookman
Morocco starting eleven: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Adam Masina, Noussair Mazraoui, Bilal El Khannouss, Neil El Aynaoui, Ismael Saibari, Brahim Diaz, Ayoub El Kaabi, Abde Ezzalzouli
How to watch Nigeria vs Morocco: TV channel, live stream online
Kick-off on Wednesday will be at 8:00 p.m. GMT (3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT). In the United Kingdom, live coverage of CAN 2025 is broadcast on Channel 4’s E4 and All 4. In the United States, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.
Online live streaming is available on a wide range of devices via Channel 4 website and the beIN Sports app and app.
Statistics Nigeria vs. Morocco
- This is the first meeting between the teams in the AFCON in 22 years and the second time they have met in the semi-finals of the tournament.
- Nigeria prevailed in the last four in 1980, triumphing 1-0 thanks to Felix Owolabi’s ninth-minute winner en route to their first title.
- They have faced the host or co-host country 10 times (3 wins, 3 draws, 4 losses).
- In the last edition of the final tournament, Nigeria beat Ivory Coast 1-0 in the group stage, but lost to them in the final 2-1.
- When Victor Osimhen scored or made an assist, Nigeria I have never lost a CAN match (5 wins, 2 draws)
- Morocco won the match twice in the group stages en route to their first and only title to date in 1976.
- This is the 12th match between the teams overall. Morocco has six victories against three for Nigeria, with two draws
- Morocco’s tally of five goals from set pieces is the highest of any CAN 2025 team via this method.
- Became the first Morocco player to score in four consecutive matches at a single AFCON tournament, Real Madrid’s Diaz extended his own record by scoring against Cameroon
