Off the back of emphatic displays in their respective Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final matches, Nigeria and host nation Morocco clash at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Wednesday evening with a place in the final on the line.
The Super Eagles eased past Algeria with relative comfort, preventing their opponents from registering a single shot on target, with their performance arguably meriting more than the 2–0 victory had they been more clinical in front of goal.
Despite that profligacy in the final third, Eric Chelle’s men remain the tournament’s most prolific attacking side, with no team netting more than their 14 goals so far.
Nigeria are now looking to become the first nation to score two or more goals in six consecutive matches in a single AFCON edition, while they are also the only side in the competition boasting a 100% record.
The Super Eagles will aim to extend that run as they push for back-to-back appearances in the AFCON final, having fallen short against hosts Ivory Coast in the previous edition.
Facing another host nation may stir uneasy memories, especially with Nigeria having lost three of their last four meetings against such opponents (W1).
However, the three-time African champions will focus firmly on the task at hand as they bid to reach the AFCON final for a ninth time and chase their first continental crown since 2013.
For Morocco, it has been half a century since they last tasted AFCON glory, with their 1976 triumph still standing as their only success in the competition.
This edition feels like a timely opportunity to add another, with several factors aligning in their favour — from their status as Africa’s highest-ranked nation to recent progress on the international stage, all reinforced by strong home support.
Despite not being entirely convincing throughout the tournament, the Atlas Lions have consistently found a way through, with their victory over Cameroon in the previous round arguably their most authoritative showing so far.
Walid Regragui’s side limited the Indomitable Lions to no shots on target while scoring twice themselves, and they will look to deliver another composed display as they attempt to reach the AFCON final for only the third time in their history.
How the bookies view it: Morocco favourites
Morocco enter the contest as favourites, aided by both home advantage and their standing in the global rankings. The Atlas Lions are priced at 21/20, implying a 48.8% chance of securing victory in regulation time. Nigeria, however, are not far behind at 23/10 (30.3%), while the draw is available at 21/10.
Head-to-head: First AFCON meeting in 22 years
The two sides last met in 2018, when Morocco recorded a 4–0 win in the African Nations Championship. This will, however, be their first AFCON meeting since the Atlas Lions’s 1–0 victory in 2004.
Morocco have won three of the previous five AFCON encounters between the nations, with Nigeria claiming the other two.
Players to watch: Ademola Lookman vs Brahim Diaz
Ademola Lookman is enjoying another outstanding AFCON campaign, having scored three goals and provided four assists for Nigeria. That means the Atalanta forward has now been directly involved in 11 goals in 11 AFCON appearances (G6, A5), the most of any player across the last two editions.
Morocco’s Brahim Diaz, meanwhile, has found the net in all five matches at this tournament and could become the first player in AFCON history to score in six different games within a single edition.
Probable line-ups
Nigeria will be without captain Wilfred Ndidi, who is suspended after accumulating bookings, while Cyril Dessers has withdrawn from the tournament with a thigh injury.
For Morocco, veteran defender Romain Saiss is expected to miss out again following an opening-day injury, while Azzedine Ounahi remains unavailable.
Nigeria (4-3-1-2): Nwabali; Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Onyeka, Onyedika, Iwobi; Lookman; Adams, Osimhen
Morocco (4-3-3): Bono; Hakimi, Aguerd, Masina, Mazraoui; El Khannouss, El Aynaoui, Saibari; Diaz, Ezzalzouli, El Kaabi
Anything else that catches the eye?
Nigeria have collected more bookings than their opponents in three of their last five AFCON matches, while Morocco have received fewer cards than their opposition in three of their five games, making the 8/5 on Betano for Nigeria to pick up more cards appealing.
The Super Eagles have averaged a tournament-high 16.8 shots per match across their last five games, so backing Nigeria over 10.5 shots at 4/5 on Bet365 looks solid.
Lookman has been fouled at least once in three of his four appearances at this AFCON, making the 4/9 on Bet365 for him to be fouled at least once another reasonable option.
GambleAware
Nigeria may end up defeating Morocco, that’s always football for you, with the way Nigeria plays in this AFCON matches, I see Nigeria excelling to the final.