The excitement is building across Africa as Nigeria and hosts Morocco prepare to clash in the semi-finals of the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations.
The match will take place at the iconic Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Tuesday, 14 January, with kick-off set for 9 pm local time (20:00 GMT).
Both teams arrive at this stage unbeaten, with Nigeria winning all five of their matches and Morocco recording four victories alongside one draw.
Football fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
A Storied History Between the Super Eagles and Atlas Lions
This semi-final marks the sixth AFCON meeting between Nigeria and Morocco, and it’s the first time they face each other in the tournament in 22 years.
Historically, all five of their previous AFCON clashes produced a winner, so fans can expect an intense battle.
Most of these encounters occurred in the group stages, including two meetings in 1976, and games in 2000 and 2004.
Their first-ever AFCON clash in 1976 ended in two Moroccan victories, which helped the Atlas Lions secure their only continental title to date.
The two nations have also met in a semi-final once before in 1980, when Nigeria triumphed 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Felix Owolabi on their way to winning the championship.
Previous AFCON Encounters in Detail
- 1980 Semi-finals: Nigeria 1–0 Morocco (Owolabi 9’).
- 2000 Group Stage: Nigeria 2–0 Morocco (George 28’, Aghahowa 81’).
- 2004 Group Stage: Nigeria 0–1 Morocco (Hadji 77’).
Overall, the two teams have met 11 times across all competitions, with Morocco holding the upper hand with six wins, Nigeria three, and two draws.
Interestingly, seven of the goals in AFCON clashes between the sides have come in the second half, highlighting the dramatic nature of their encounters.
Nigeria’s Record Against Host Nations
Nigeria have faced host nations ten times at AFCON, winning three, drawing three, and losing four.
This is their second consecutive tournament facing the host, following a semi-final clash with Côte d’Ivoire in 2023, where they lost 2-1.
Their semi-final history against host nations is more challenging, having only won once in five knockout games – the 2002 third-place match against Mali.
Losses came against Algeria in 1990, Ghana in 2008, Côte d’Ivoire in 2023, and on penalties to Tunisia in 2004.
Nigeria’s Form at AFCON 2025
The Super Eagles have been in unstoppable form this tournament.
They have scored at least two goals in each of their five matches, matching a feat they last achieved in 2000.
With 14 goals in total, they have the highest goal tally of any team at this edition so far.
Victor Osimhen has been pivotal, scoring four goals and assisting five, making him directly involved in ten of Nigeria’s AFCON goals.
Remarkably, Nigeria have never lost a match in which Osimhen has scored or assisted, recording five wins and two draws.
The team has also shown defensive solidity, not conceding a single shot on target against Algeria in the quarter-finals and boasting a shot conversion rate of 21%, the best in the tournament.
Morocco’s Path to the Semi-Final
Hosts Morocco reached the semi-finals after a narrow 1-0 win over Cameroon in the quarter-finals, marking their first semi-final appearance since 2004.
With four clean sheets so far, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has set a record as the first Moroccan to register four shutouts at a single AFCON edition.
Brahim Díaz has been a standout for the Atlas Lions, scoring in all five matches, just one goal shy of Ahmed Faras’ AFCON record for Morocco.
Their victory would see them reach a second AFCON final and their first in over two decades.
What’s at Stake
For Nigeria, a win would extend their record to a ninth AFCON final and secure back-to-back final appearances for the first time.
They would also join Egypt, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire as the only teams in recent history to reach multiple finals since 2013.
For Morocco, a victory would continue their impressive run as hosts and potentially make them the second successive host nation to reach an AFCON final.
Head coach Walid Regragui is aiming to guide the Atlas Lions to their third senior CAF final within a year.
With both sides in stellar form and history on the line, Tuesday night promises an electrifying clash as Nigeria and Morocco battle for a place in the AFCON 2025 final.
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