Everything you need to know ahead of Nigeria and Morocco’s massive semi-final clash in the Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria and Morocco clash in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final on Wednesday, January 14, at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
Everything you need to know ahead of Nigeria and Morocco’s massive semi-final clash in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria and Morocco clash in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final on Wednesday, January 14, at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
With a place in Sunday’s final at stake, two of the tournament’s standout sides are set for a high-stakes encounter.
The Super Eagles have been in impressive form, winning all five of their matches and scoring a tournament-high 14 goals along the way.
Hosts Morocco, meanwhile, boast the best defensive record in the competition and remain unbeaten on home soil. Both sides come into this semi-final full of confidence and momentum.
Game information
The match will be held at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, a stadium with a capacity of around 68,000.
The venue has already seen several key fixtures during this AFCON, including Morocco’s quarter-final victory over Cameroon.
Situated in the heart of the Moroccan capital, the stadium is expected to be filled to capacity, with home fans eager to see the Atlas Lions reach their first AFCON final since 2004. Nigeria, on the other hand, will look to their attacking firepower to quieten the crowd.
Kick-off time
Kick-off is set for 9 PM local time in Rabat (GMT+1), which translates to 8 PM in Nigeria and the UK, and 3 PM Eastern Time in the US.
Weather conditions are expected to be ideal, with temperatures between 15–17°C, light southwesterly winds, and clear skies. There’s no significant risk of rain, making for a comfortable evening for both players and fans.
Where to watch
The match will be broadcast live across several platforms:
- Nigeria: CAF TV, SuperSport, NTA Sports
- Morocco: SNRT and Arryadia TV
- UK: Channel 4 and Sky Sports Football
- US: beIN Sports and FuboTV
Team news
Nigeria: Nigeria remain unbeaten but will be without captain Wilfred Ndidi, who is suspended after picking up another yellow card. Raphael Onyedika is expected to fill in, while Cyriel Dessers is sidelined through injury.
The front three of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Akor Adams will lead the attack, supported by Alex Iwobi in midfield. At the back, Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi will anchor the defence, with Stanley Nwabali in goal.
Morocco: Morocco are led by tournament top scorer Brahim Díaz, who has five goals in five matches. Achraf Hakimi has recovered from a minor injury and is set to start, but Azzedine Ounahi and Romain Saiss remain out.
The defensive unit, featuring Hakimi, Aguerd, Mazraoui, and Yassine Bounou, has conceded just once all tournament.
Head-to-head records
This will be the sixth AFCON meeting between Nigeria and Morocco, and their first in over two decades. Morocco hold the edge with three victories to Nigeria’s two. Their most recent encounter was in the 2004 group stage, where Morocco won 1–0.
- 2004 AFCON Group Stage – Morocco 1–0 Nigeria
- 1980 AFCON Semi-Final – Nigeria 1–0 Morocco
- 1978 AFCON Group Stage – Morocco 1–0 Nigeria
- 1976 AFCON Group Stage – Morocco 3–1 Nigeria
- 1973 Friendly – Nigeria 2–0 Morocco
Both teams are unbeaten heading into the semi-final. Nigeria are aiming for their first AFCON title since 2013, while Morocco are hoping to end a 50-year wait for their second continental crown.
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Category: General Sports
