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FULL LIST: What to know ahead of Super Eagles Clash against Morocco
Nigeria’s quest for a fourth TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations title continues with a high-stakes semi-final clash against host nation Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Wednesday, 14 January. Kick-off is scheduled for 9pm local time.
Nigeria head into the semi-final in perfect form, having won all five of their matches at the tournament, while hosts Morocco remain unbeaten with four wins and a draw.
The clash will be the sixth Africa Cup of Nations meeting between the two sides, with each of the previous five encounters producing a decisive outcome. It is their first AFCON meeting in 22 years and only the second time they will face each other at the semi-final stage.
Most of their previous AFCON meetings came in the group phase, with two matches in 1976, followed by encounters in 2000 and 2004. Morocco claimed victory in both meetings in 1976, while Nigeria recorded wins in 1980 and 2000. Their most recent AFCON clash was in 2004, when Morocco edged Nigeria 1-0 in the group stage.
Nigeria’s only previous semi-final meeting with Morocco came in 1980, when a ninth-minute goal from Felix Owolabi secured a 1-0 win that paved the way for the Super Eagles’ first AFCON title.
The Super Eagles have also had mixed fortunes against host nations at AFCON, posting three wins, three draws and four defeats in ten matches. This is the second consecutive tournament in which Nigeria are facing the host nation, following their encounters with Côte d’Ivoire at AFCON 2023.
In knockout matches against hosts, Nigeria have recorded just one win in five attempts, with defeats in open play and on penalties highlighting the challenge they face. This semi-final marks Nigeria’s third direct knockout clash with a host nation, adding another layer of intrigue to the high-stakes encounter.
Below is a clear, structured breakdown of all the key facts, historical meetings and tournament statistics ahead of the encounter, as outlined in CAF’s official release.
Match Overview
Fixture: Nigeria vs Morocco
Stage: Semi-final
Venue: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Date: Tuesday, 14 January
Kick-off: 9pm local time (20:00 GMT)
Tournament Form
Both teams are unbeaten at AFCON 2025
Nigeria: 5 matches, 5 wins
Morocco: 4 wins, 1 draw
AFCON Head-to-Head
Sixth AFCON meeting between Nigeria and Morocco
All previous five AFCON meetings produced a winner
First AFCON meeting between both sides in 22 years
Second time both teams are meeting in an AFCON semi-final
Previous AFCON Meetings
1976 Group Stage:
Morocco 3–1 Nigeria
Morocco 2–1 Nigeria
1980 Semi-final:
Nigeria 1–0 Morocco (Felix Owolabi, 9’)
2000 Group Stage:
Nigeria 2–0 Morocco (Finidi George, Julius Aghahowa)
2004 Group Stage:
Morocco 1–0 Nigeria (Youssef Hadji)
Overall Head-to-Head Record
Total meetings: 11
Nigeria: 3 wins
Morocco: 6 wins
Draws: 2 (both 0-0, AFCON 1984 qualifiers)
Nigeria vs Host Nations at AFCON
Matches played: 10
Wins: 3
Draws: 3
Losses: 4
Wins over hosts:
Senegal (1992 group stage)
Mali (2002 third-place match)
Côte d’Ivoire (2023 group stage)
Losses to hosts:
Algeria (1990 group stage and final)
Ghana (2008 quarter-finals)
Côte d’Ivoire (2023 final)
Nigeria in Knockout Matches vs Hosts
Matches: 5
Wins: 1
Losses: 4
Penalty defeat: Tunisia (2004 semi-finals)
This semi-final is Nigeria’s third direct knockout match against a host nation.
Nigeria – Key Statistics
Defeated Algeria 2-0 in the quarter-finals
Scored at least two goals in all five matches
14 goals scored, their highest tally at a single AFCON
First team since Cameroon in 2021 to reach 14 goals
Scored in their last 12 AFCON matches
Won five consecutive AFCON matches for the first time
Record-extending 16th AFCON semi-final appearance
Semi-final record: P15 W8 L7
A win would send Nigeria into a ninth AFCON final
Victor Osimhen:
4 goals at AFCON 2025
Directly involved in 10 AFCON goals (5 goals, 5 assists)
Nigeria unbeaten in matches where he scores or assists
3 knockout goals at the current edition
Morocco – Key Statistics
Beat Cameroon 1-0 in the quarter-finals
Reached the AFCON semi-finals for the fifth time
First semi-final appearance since 2004
Second time reaching the semi-finals as hosts
Only one semi-final win in previous appearances
All previous semi-finals decided in open play
Four clean sheets at AFCON 2025, their most ever
Key players:
Yassine Bounou: first Moroccan goalkeeper with four AFCON clean sheets
Brahim Díaz: 5 goals, one short of Ahmed Faras’ AFCON scoring record
Morocco have scored five set-piece goals, the most at the tournament
What’s at Stake
Nigeria are chasing a fourth AFCON title and a first-ever run of consecutive finals
Morocco are seeking a first AFCON final in over 21 years and their first title since 1976
With Nigeria’s attacking firepower up against Morocco’s defensive discipline and home support, the Rabat semi-final promises a defining contest at AFCON 2025.
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