Hosts Morocco will battle Nigeria in an anticipated epic encounter of the AFCON 2025 semi-final at the Prince Moulay stadium in Rabat on Wednesday night.
The Atlas Lions are under pressure to make it to Sunday’s final as the only prize for nearly 40 million Moroccans following a superb organisation of the tournament.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria, who are aiming for their fourth title, boast of an outstanding 100% record at the 35th AFCON, the only team of the remaining 4 nations in the tournament.
At 11pm Kenyan time the entire content will come to a standstill as the hosts Morocco battle three-time champions Nigeria at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
The Atlas Lions, in search of their first title since 1976, are on course to bag their 2nd AFCON trophy as they play in the semi-final after 20 years.
Hosts Morocco topped Group A with a 2-0 win over Comoros before being held to a 1-1 draw by Mali and eased past Zambia 3-0 in Group A fixtures.
Morocco under the tutelage of their former international Walid Regragui,were 1-0 victors over minnows Tanzania in the round of 16, then eliminated 5-time champions Cameroon in the quarter-final to book a date with Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
Coached by former Malian international Eric Chelle, Nigeria beat Tanzania 2-1, then slid past Tunisia 3-2 and completed group C fixtures with a 3-1 win over Uganda Cranes.
Nigeria had an easy task mauling Mozambique 4-0 in the round of 16, then beat Algeria 2-0 in the quarter-final to make it to the last four.
This will be the first AFCON H2H since 2004, with Morocco winning three of their five overall H2Hs against Nigeria.
Ademola Look, man, the top assist at the tournament and forward Victor Osimhen will be instrumental to the West Africans’ ambition tonight, while buoyed by home support and having played all their matches at the same venue this year, Morocco will peg their hopes on the tournament’s top scorer, Brahim Diaz, on 5 goals, and their captain, Achraf Hakimi, to get the job done.
Tonight’s winner will remain in Rabat for Sunday’s final, while the loser will relocate to Casablanca for the 3rd place play-off on Saturday.
