Off the back of emphatic displays in their respective Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final matches, Nigeria and host nation Morocco clash at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Wednesday evening with a place in the final on the line.
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The Super Eagles eased past Algeria with relative comfort, preventing their opponents from registering a single shot on target, with their performance arguably meriting more than the 2–0 victory had they been more clinical in front of goal.
Despite that profligacy in the final third, Eric Chelle’s men remain the tournament’s most prolific attacking side, with no team netting more than their 14 goals so far.
Nigeria are now looking to become the first nation to score two or more goals in six consecutive matches in a single AFCON edition, while they are also the only side in the competition boasting a 100% record.
The Super Eagles will aim to extend that run as they push for back-to-back appearances in the AFCON final, having fallen short against hosts Ivory Coast in the previous edition.
Facing another host nation may stir uneasy memories, especially with Nigeria having lost three of their last four meetings against such opponents (W1).
However, the three-time African champions will focus firmly on the task at hand as they bid to reach the AFCON final for a ninth time and chase their first continental crown since 2013.
For Morocco, it has been half a century since they last tasted AFCON glory, with their 1976 triumph still standing as their only success in the competition.
This edition feels like a timely opportunity to add another, with several factors aligning in their favour — from their status as Africa’s highest-ranked nation to recent progress on the international stage, all reinforced by strong home support.
Despite not being entirely convincing throughout the tournament, the Atlas Lions have consistently found a way through, with their victory over Cameroon in the previous round arguably their most authoritative showing so far.
Walid Regragui’s side limited the Indomitable Lions to no shots on target while scoring twice themselves, and they will look to deliver another composed display as they attempt to reach the AFCON final for only the third time in their history.
