Nigeria are bidding for a fourth TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations title and will face hosts Morocco searching for their first trophy win since 1976, in the semi-finals of the 2025 edition at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on 14 January at 21h00 local time (20h00 GMT).<\/p>\n
Both teams are undefeated with Nigeria winning all five of their games, while Morocco have recorded four wins and a draw.<\/p>\n
They meet at the Africa Cup of Nations for the sixth time, with all five previous AFCON meetings producing a winner.<\/p>\n
This is their first meeting in 22 years at AFCON and the second time they face each other in an AFCON Semi-final.<\/p>\n
Four of their previous five AFCON meetings came in the group stages in 1976 (two games), 2000 and 2004.<\/p>\n
They first met at AFCON in 1976 in the group stages, with Morocco winning both matches 3-1 and 2-1 on their way to their first and only title.<\/p>\n
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 en route to their first title.<\/p>\n
They met again in 2000 when Nigeria eliminated Morocco in their final Group D game with a 2-0 victory, with Finidi George and Julius Aghahowa scoring for the Super Eagles.<\/p>\n
Their last AFCON meeting came in the group stages in 2004, when Morocco won 1-0 in their opening Group D match, Youssef Hadji scoring the only goal in the 77th minute.<\/p>\n
Nigeria have faced the host or co-host nation on ten previous occasions, with their record against hosts reading P10 W3 D3 L4.<\/p>\n
Nigeria meet AFCON hosts for a second tournament in a row, having faced C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire in the group stages and the final in 2023, winning 1-0 in the group stage and losing 2-1 in the final.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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 C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire in the 2023 Final.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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 C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire in the 2023 Final, and lost on penalties to Tunisia in 2004.<\/p>\n
This is Nigeria\u2019s third direct knockout match against a host team, having previously lost to Tunisia on penalties in the 2004 Semi-finals and to Ghana in the 2008 Quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
Overall, this is their 12th meeting, with Morocco holding the upper hand with six wins to Nigeria\u2019s three, with two draws.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Seven of the 11 goals scored in their previous five AFCON meetings have come in the second half.<\/p>\n
PAST MEETINGS<\/p>\n
OVERALL
Nigeria: P11 W3 D2 L6 GF8 GA14 GD-6Morocco: P11 W6 D2 L3 GF14 GA8 GD+6<\/p>\n
AFCON ONLY
Nigeria: P5 W2 D0 L3 GF5 GA6 GD-1Morocco: P5 W3 D0 L2 GF6 GA5 GD+1<\/p>\n
PAST AFCON MEETINGS
1976, Group A \u2013 First Group Stage, 6 March 1976Morocco 3 (Faras 8\u2019, Tazi 19\u2019, Chebbak 81\u2019) Nigeria 1 (Ojebode 81\u2019)<\/p>\n
1976, Final Round, 11 March 1976Morocco 2 (Faras 82\u2019, Guezzar 87\u2019) Nigeria 1 (Mohammed 57\u2019)<\/p>\n
1980, Semi-finals, 19 March 1980Nigeria 1 (Owolabi 9\u2019) Morocco 0<\/p>\n
2000, Group D, 3 February 2000Nigeria 2 (George 28\u2019, Aghahowa 81\u2019) Morocco 0<\/p>\n
2004, Group D, 27 January 2004Nigeria 0 Morocco 1 (Hadji 77\u2019)<\/p>\n
Nigeria \u2013 Key Statistics<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Defeated Algeria 2-0 in the Quarter-finals to reach the last four.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have scored at least two goals in each of their five games, the first time they have done so at AFCON.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have scored at least two goals in five matches at a single AFCON for only the second time, also doing so in 2000.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Along with Egypt in 1974 and 2010, are only the second team to score at least two goals in each of their first five matches at AFCON.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have scored 14 goals at the current finals, their highest tally at a single edition.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The last team to score 14 goals at an AFCON was Cameroon in 2021.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have scored in their last 12 AFCON matches, last failing to score in the Round of 16 loss to Tunisia in 2021.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have scored in five matches at the current finals, last scoring in six successive games in 2013.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have won five successive AFCON matches for the first time.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have won five matches at an AFCON for the second time, along with 2019.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have never won six matches in a row or six matches at a single AFCON edition.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have won both of their knockout matches at AFCON 2025; last won three knockout matches in succession in 2013.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The 2013 edition is the only time they have won three knockout matches in open play.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Will contest a record-extending 16th AFCON Semi-final.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First appeared in an AFCON Semi-final in 1978, losing 2-1 to Uganda.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Under the 24-team AFCON format, only Senegal (2019, 2021, 2025) and Nigeria (2019, 2023, 2025) have reached three Semi-finals.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Semi-final record reads P15 W8 L7, with the 1976 edition played over two group stages.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Of their eight Semi-final wins, four have been in open play and four on penalties.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Of their seven eliminations, six were in open play and one on penalties.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No team has failed to progress from more AFCON Semi-finals than Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Victory would see Nigeria reach a ninth AFCON Final and their first consecutive finals.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Would draw level with Ghana on nine AFCON Final appearances.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Since 2013, only Egypt, Senegal and C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire have reached multiple finals along with Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Previous AFCON Final appearances: 1980, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1994, 2000 and 2013.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Would reach a final in North Africa for the fourth time.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fifth Semi-final appearance in their last six AFCON participations.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lost Semi-finals in 2010 and 2019, won in 2013 and 2023.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have missed the Semi-finals only three times in 20 AFCON appearances (1982, 2008, 2021).<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have contested eight penalty shoot-outs at AFCON, winning six.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Five of those shoot-outs came in the Semi-finals.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Joint-most penalty shoot-out wins at AFCON (six), alongside Egypt.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Penalty shoot-out losses came in the 2000 Final and 2004 Semi-finals.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Won their first three AFCON shoot-outs in 1984, 1988 and 1994.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have only played one AFCON Final decided by penalties (2000).<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have won their last three AFCON penalty shoot-outs.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Won four Semi-finals in open play (1980, 1990, 2000, 2013).<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lost four Semi-finals in open play (1978, 1992, 2002, 2019).<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Victor Osimhen has four goals at the current tournament, the most by a Nigerian since Odion Ighalo in 2019.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Osimhen has 10 AFCON goal involvements (5 goals, 5 assists).<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Osimhen has scored three knockout goals, becoming the fifth Nigerian to do so at a single edition.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nigeria have never lost an AFCON match in which Osimhen scored or assisted (W5 D2).<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nigeria did not face a shot on target against Algeria.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have a shot conversion rate of 21%, the best at the tournament.<\/p>\n
Morocco \u2013 Key Statistics<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Defeated Cameroon 1-0 to reach the Semi-finals for the first time since 2004.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reached the Quarter-finals for the fifth time and won at that stage for only the second time.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have taken their all-time AFCON goal tally to 96.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are appearing in the Semi-finals for the fifth time (1980, 1986, 1988, 2004, 2025).<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are hosts in the Semi-finals for the second time, after 1988.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have won only one of their previous three Semi-finals (2004).<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lost successive Semi-finals in 1986 and 1988.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lost their first Semi-final appearance in 1980 to hosts Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 All teams that previously eliminated Morocco in a Semi-final went on to win the title.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Victory would take them to a second final and their first in over 21 years.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 All Semi-finals have been decided in open play.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 All three Semi-final losses were by 1-0 scorelines.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Victory would see them become the second successive host nation to reach the final.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Would become the 15th host nation to reach an AFCON Final.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have kept four clean-sheets at the current finals, their most at a single edition.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yassine Bounou is the first Moroccan goalkeeper to keep four clean-sheets at AFCON.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have won four matches at the current edition, their most since 2004.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have won their last three AFCON matches.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brahim D\u00edaz has scored five goals, the first player to score in five matches since 2021.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 D\u00edaz is one goal shy of Ahmed Faras\u2019 AFCON record for Morocco.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Morocco have scored five set-piece goals, more than any other team.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Walid Regragui is leading Morocco into his second major Semi-final.<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A win would see Morocco reach their third senior CAF final in under a year.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nigeria are bidding for a fourth TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations title and will face hosts Morocco…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":233976,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[85,46,105],"class_list":{"0":"post-233975","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-il","9":"tag-israel","10":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=233975"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233975\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/233976"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=233975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=233975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=233975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}