Nigeria – Morocco: a semi that electrifies a continent 
Wednesday night, Rabat will hold its breath. The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium hosts one of the biggest ties AFCON could throw up: Nigeria, irresistible so far, against Morocco, the hosts and a defensive machine that’s near-impossible to crack.
On the pitch there’s a pile of stars you rarely see all in one semi: Salah, Mané, Osimhen, Lookman, Hakimi, Diaz… a cast you’d expect in a World Cup final.
Nigeria: an unexpected revival — and it’s convincing 
Nobody really expected Nigeria at this level after the November slap when DR Congo took their World Cup spot. But since this AFCON kicked off, the Super Eagles play like a side with nothing to lose — ambitious, attacking, almost cocky. Eric Chelle, the Malian coach, found the tone: fluid, offensive football, played with intent, led by an Osimhen–Lookman–Iwobi trio that bulldozes opponents.
The numbers say it all: five games, five wins, fourteen goals scored, only four conceded.
The run in short:
2-1 vs Tanzania to kick things off
3-2 in a crazy game against Tunisia
3-1 vs Uganda with a rotated side
4-0 vs Mozambique in the last 16
2-0 vs Algeria, who were tipped as favourites
Simple fact: nobody’s produced football as eye-catching as theirs this tournament. Still, recent history isn’t kind — Morocco have won five of the last six meetings, including a 4-0 that still stings in Nigeria.
But this time the Super Eagles arrive with a different energy. It’s contagious.
Morocco: a fortress, a crowd on fire and a Brahim Diaz you can’t stop 
Morocco work by a different rule: no detail left to chance.
Walid Regragui has built a compact, disciplined block that chokes opponents then stabs on the break.
Group stage, handled:
2-0 vs Comoros
3-0 vs Zambia
1-1 vs Mali
In the last 16 the Atlas Lions calmly wiped out Cameroon (2-0), with Brahim Diaz on fire. The Real Madrid man has scored in his first five AFCON matches — a run unseen in fifteen years. Morocco have conceded just one goal in the whole tournament, and none from open play.
At home, with a stadium roaring every time they win the ball, they become almost unplayable. This is their fifth AFCON semi and it can push them into a third continental final in under a year.
Pressure’s huge. They look built for it.
Likely lineups
Nigeria :
Nwabali ; Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Onyemaechi ; Onyeka, Onyedika, Iwobi ; Lookman, Adams, Osimhen
Morocco :
Bono ; Hakimi, Aguerd, Masina, Mazraoui ; El Khannouss, El Aynaoui, Saibari ; Diaz, Ezzalzouli, El Kaabi
Key takeaways
- Nigeria have the tournament’s best attack (14 goals).
- Morocco have conceded only one goal and none from open play.
- The Atlas Lions have dominated recent head-to-heads.
- The Super Eagles arrive on a relentless run.
Football Prediction Nigeria vs Morocco
Both teams to score
Nigeria attack like no one else in this AFCON, and even Morocco’s defence might crack.
But at home, with near-clinical solidity, Morocco will find pockets to hurt them too.
Expect a tense, open match where both sides have enough quality to hit the net.
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