Morocco's head coach, Walid Regragui, has openly admitted his concern over three key players from Nigeria's Super Eagles ahead of their high-stakes semi-final clash at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The crucial match is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
The Three Super Eagles Stars on Morocco's Radar
During his pre-match press conference, Regragui specifically highlighted the threat posed by striker Victor Osimhen, winger Ademola Lookman, and midfield maestro Alex Iwobi. He expressed a measure of relief that the suspended Nigerian midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, would be unavailable for the encounter.
"Ndidi's absence will help us, but when you have Osimhen, Lookman, and Iwobi, and when you see their bench…" Regragui stated, acknowledging the depth of quality in the Nigerian squad.
The statistics back up his apprehension. Victor Osimhen has been in formidable form with four goals and two assists in the tournament so far. Ademola Lookman has contributed three goals and five assists, while Alex Iwobi has been the engine of Nigeria's midfield. According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Iwobi made an impressive 36 line-breaking passes in the knockout stages alone.
A Clash of Titans: Best Attack vs. Best Defence
This semi-final presents a classic football confrontation. The Super Eagles boast the tournament's most potent attack, having scored 14 goals in their five matches, all of which they have won. In stark contrast, the host nation, Morocco, possesses the stingiest defence, conceding only one goal throughout their campaign.
Both teams earned their semi-final spots with impressive quarter-final victories. Nigeria defeated Algeria, while Morocco overcame Cameroon. The Atlas Lions' only blemish was a draw against Mali in the group stage.
Tactical Mind Games and Injury Concerns
Regragui also addressed comments from the Nigerian camp suggesting a possible shift to a counter-attacking strategy. He warned his team not to fall into any tactical traps and to maintain their focus for the full 90 minutes.
"They might change their plan, although I consider that unlikely. We need to concentrate and win our duels, and not retreat like we did against Cameroon, because they could punish us," the Moroccan coach emphasized. He added that his team must raise their level in the second half to prevent Nigeria from gaining momentum.
On the injury front, Regragui confirmed a significant blow for Morocco, with midfielder Azzedine Ounahi ruled out of the Nigeria clash due to a calf injury. However, there was positive news as centre-back Romain Saiss is back in contention for a starting role.
With a place in the AFCON 2025 final at stake, this encounter promises to be a monumental battle between Nigeria's fiery attack and Morocco's rock-solid defence, with the tactical acumen of both coaches set to play a decisive role.
