Overview:
This is their second meeting in the Semi-finals. Nigeria won the previous clash in 1980, triumphing 1-0 with Felix Owolabi scoring the winner in the 9th minute enroute to their first title.
Wednesday January 14, 2026
- Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat 11pm [EAT]
Nigeria and hosts Morocco face off in a crucial semi-final clash at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in a highly anticipated match that pits arguably the best teams of the competition.
The Super Eagles are perfect so far with victories in all their matches and dispatched Algeria 2-0 in the quarter final to get here.
Morocco is also undefeated in the tournament drawing only once – 1-1 versus Mali in their group stage match and eliminated five-time champions Cameroon in the previous stage to get into the last four.
Both coaches spoke with optimism heading into the clash with Nigeria’s Eric Chelle dubbing the game another big test for his invisible Super Eagles while his Moroccan counter part Walid Regragui has called on fans to make life uncomfortable for their opponents.
Key Players
It is a match that pits arguably the two best players in the tournament so far with Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman (3 goals, 4 assists) taking on Brahim Diaz (5 goals in 5 matches).
Other key players in the clash for Nigeria will be Victor Osimhen, Adams Akor and the in-form Alex Iwobi who his coach described as one with a big I.Q.
Besides Diaz for the Atlas Lions, centre forward Ayoub El Kaabi, skipper Achraf Hakimi, forward Ezzalzouli and defensive stalwarts Nayef Aguerd and Nassour Mazraoui.
Key Stats and interesting facts
They meet at the Africa Cup of Nations for the sixth time, having met in 1976 (two matches), 1980, 2000 and 2004.
In 1976, Morocco won both matches 3-1 and 2-1 on their way to their first and only title.
This is their second meeting in the Semi-finals. Nigeria won the previous clash in 1980, triumphing 1-0 with Felix Owolabi scoring the winner in the 9th minute enroute to their first title.
Nigeria have faced the host or co-host nation on ten previous occasions, with their record against hosts reading P10 W3 D3 L4.
Nigeria meet AFCON hosts for a second tournament in a row, having faced Côte d’Ivoire in the group stages and the final in 2023, winning 1-0 in the group stage and losing 2-1 in the final.
Nigeria also defeated tournament hosts in 2002, winning the third-place match against Mali 1-0, and recorded a group-stage win over Senegal in 1992 by a 2-1 scoreline.
Nigeria have lost four times against hosts: twice against Algeria in 1990 (group stage and final), as well as defeats to Ghana in the 2008 Quarter-finals and Côte d’Ivoire in the 2023 Final.
Nigeria have drawn three times against hosts: in 1978 against Ghana, in 2002 against Mali in the group stages, and in 2004 against Tunisia in the Semi-finals (1-1), before losing on penalties.
In the knockout rounds at AFCON, Nigeria have faced hosts five times, winning only once against Mali in the 2002 third-place match. They have lost three times in open play against Algeria in the 1990 Final, Ghana in the 2008 Quarter-finals and Côte d’Ivoire in the 2023 Final, and lost on penalties to Tunisia in 2004.
Overall, this is their 12th meeting, with Morocco holding the upper hand with six wins to Nigeria’s three, with two draws.
Both draws ended 0-0 and came in qualification for the 1984 AFCON in the second round over two legs, with Nigeria progressing after winning a penalty shoot-out following a goalless aggregate.
Seven of the 11 goals scored in their previous five AFCON meetings have come in the second half.
PAST AFCON MEETINGS
1976, Group A – First Group Stage, 6 March 1976: Morocco 3 (Faras 8’, Tazi 19’, Chebbak 81’) Nigeria 1 (Ojebode 81’)
1976, Final Round, 11 March 1976: Morocco 2 (Faras 82’, Guezzar 87’) Nigeria 1 (Mohammed 57’)
1980, Semi-finals, 19 March 1980: Nigeria 1 (Owolabi 9’) Morocco 0
2000, Group D, 3 February 2000: Nigeria 2 (George 28’, Aghahowa 81’) Morocco 0
2004, Group D, 27 January 2004: Nigeria 0 Morocco 1 (Hadji 77’)