AFCON 2025 Semi-Final: Can The Super Eagles Break Morocco?

Nigeria and Morocco lock horns in Rabat on Wednesday, with a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final at stake in what promises to be one of the tournament’s defining nights.

The Super Eagles arrive with momentum firmly on their side. A composed 2–0 victory over Algeria in the quarter-finals preserved their perfect record at this year’s AFCON, making Nigeria the only team to have won all of their matches so far. With 14 goals scored, they are the competition’s most potent attack and now stand on the brink of history one more multi-goal outing would make them the first team to score two or more goals in six consecutive matches in a single AFCON edition.

Such a return would also carry Nigeria into a ninth AFCON final, and potentially back-to-back finals for only the second time in their history. Still, history urges caution. Nigeria have lost three of their last four AFCON meetings with hosts Morocco, a reminder that pedigree alone guarantees nothing at this stage.

Morocco, meanwhile, continues to look every bit like a host nation growing into the tournament. A commanding 2–0 win over Cameroon in the last eight marked their third successive clean-sheet victory, a run they have never extended to four matches at AFCON. Achieving that here would send the Atlas Lions into just their third final, following appearances in 1976 and 2004, as they chase an end to a 50-year wait for continental glory.

Goals have rarely been an issue for Walid Regragui’s side. Morocco have failed to score in only one of their last 18 AFCON matches, underlining their consistency in the final third and their readiness for another step toward the trophy.

Head-to-Head

This will be Nigeria and Morocco’s first AFCON meeting since 2004. Across five previous tournament encounters, Morocco holds the edge with three wins to Nigeria’s two.

Key Stats

* Nigeria has scored two or more goals in just one of their last seven AFCON semi-finals.

* The Super Eagles are averaging 16.8 shots per game, the highest figure at this tournament.

* Morocco has failed to score in three of their last four AFCON semi-finals.

Players to Watch & Absentees

Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman has been directly involved in 11 goals in 11 AFCON appearances (six goals, five assists), more than any player across the last two editions. For Morocco, Brahim Díaz has scored in all five matches at this tournament and could make history by finding the net in six different games in a single AFCON.

Nigeria will be without suspended captain Wilfred Ndidi, while Morocco continue to monitor Azzedine Ounahi, who remains sidelined with a calf injury.

All signs point to a fierce and finely balanced contest as two of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking sides collide. A semi-final in name, but very much a final-quality encounter.