Tonight’s semifinal clash between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Atlas Lions of Morocco brings back memories of the 1980 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), hosted by Nigeria. The tournament then featured only eight teams, and straight from the group stage, Morocco, who finished second behind Algeria in Ibadan-based Group B, had a date with the host nation in the last four.
It was meant to be a walkover, almost. Except for Cote d’Ivoire, who gave Nigeria a tough time in Group A playing goalless, the then Green Eagles had won against Tanzania (3-1) and Egypt (1-0), while Morocco managed only a win at the group phase (1-0 against Ghana).
But the Moroccan proved so tough, even as winger Felix Owolabi got a goal as early as the ninth minute. Keeper Best Ogedegbe’s heroics saved the day for Nigeria to reach the final, and beat Algeria 3-0 for the nation’s first AFCON.
At Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat, which has a capacity of around 68,000, the Moroccans will look to stop Nigeria from climbing on their backs to yet another AFCON showpiece. The present class of the Atlas Lions slowed but steadily earned their position among the top four teams of Morocco 2025. They dispatched Comoros 2-0 in this edition’s opening match, were forced to 1-1 by Mali and thrashed Zambia 3-0 to win Group A.
The Lions were expected to devour Tanzania effortlessly, but they struggled until midfielder Brahim Diaz’s 64th minute goal delivered result in the Round of 16. At the same venue of tonight’s clash, the hosts did not spear the competition’s second best winners, Cameroon in the quarterfinals, scoring a goal in each half without conceding.
Morocco boast of the tournament’s highest scorer in Diaz, who had found the net five times, leading Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, each with a goal less. PSG’s defender Achraf Hakimi has recovered from a minor injury and is set to start, but Azzedine Ounahi and Romain Saiss remain out.
The Atlas Lions, who remain unbeaten on home soil, parade the best defensive record in the competition, conceding just once all tournament. In the backline are Hakimi, Aguerd, Mazraoui, and Yassine Bounou.
They will be determined to reach only their second AFCON having won their only title in Ethiopia 1976 and losing to hosts Tunisia 1-2 in 2004.
The Super Eagles are, however, self motivated by the desire to appease their fans after their failure to qualify for a second FIFA World Cup finals in a row. They have wormed their way back to the hearts of their compatriots as the only team with 100% result in Morocco 2025, and scoring a tournament-high 14 goals along the way.
Now it’s to go a step further and reach to final with the prospect of lifting the title for the fourth time after victories in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
But the team will miss its captain Wilfred Ndidi, who is suspended after picking up another yellow card in the last match against Algeria. Raphael Onyedika is expected to fill in for the midfielder, while Cyriel Dessers is sidelined through injury.
The front three of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Akor Adams will expectedly lead the attack, supported by Alex Iwobi in midfield. At the back, Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi will anchor the defence, with Stanley Nwabali in goal.
This will be the sixth AFCON meeting between Nigeria and Morocco, and their first in over two decades. Morocco hold the edge with three victories to Nigeria’s two. Their most recent encounter was in the 2004 group stage, where Morocco won 1–0.
With a place in Sunday’s final at stake, two of the tournament’s standout sides are set for a high-stakes encounter.
Whoever emerged from the clash of the Eagles and the Lions will have known their final opponents before the kickoff in Rabat as the first semifinal hold earlier at Stade Ibn Batouta in Tanger. It’s seven-time champions (the record holders) Egypt facing 2021 winners Senegal.
The Pharaohs of Egypt fought gallantly to eliminate the last winners of the tournament, Cote d’Ivoire 3-2 in their last match, almost squandering a two-goal lead to eventually prevailed 3-2. That game exposed the frailties in their backline which the Teranga Lions of Senegal are bound to exploit.
Both sides won four and drew the other match on their way to the semifinals of AFCON 2025. Egypt last won their championship in 2010 are want more, while the Senegalese also need more than their only hurrah so far.
