Nigeria boss Eric Chelle has revealed that his staff might undertake a extra defensive strategy for his or her Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in opposition to hosts Morocco on Wednesday.
Chelle’s staff, who completed as runners-up within the 2023 version, have been in positive type this 12 months, topping the charts for targets (14), anticipated targets (12.8) and massive probabilities (26).
They’ve additionally scored at the very least two targets in all 5 matches on this event and will develop into the primary staff to take action in six consecutive matches in a single version.
Nonetheless, they face a stern check in Morocco, who’ve received their final three video games at AFCON with out conceding a purpose, whereas they haven’t let one in from open play to this point.
Nigeria haven’t received the competitors since their 2013 success over Burkina Faso, and Chelle believes a extra reserved recreation plan might be extra profitable for his staff.
“Morocco is a powerful staff, and there will likely be strain in entrance of the host nation,” Chelle instructed reporters.
“I really feel that my squad is drained, so I’ll have to alter my strategy. We’d let Morocco have the ball and anticipate them.
“We’ve got seen that they wrestle after they come up in opposition to a low block. I believe we’ll begin like that.
“We are going to attempt to maintain on within the first half after which play our recreation within the second half.”
Morocco, in the meantime, have loved a dream marketing campaign within the first AFCON event they’ve hosted since 1988, the place Cameroon emerged victorious.
However Walid Regragui’s facet have the possibility to make historical past themselves with a semi-final win, which might e-book their place in an AFCON showpiece for the primary time since 2004.
They’ve already overwhelmed Tanzania and Cameroon within the knockout stage on their method to the ultimate 4, although their development has been criticised by the media as a result of they’re the host nation.
Some broadcast pundits and supporters on-line have bemoaned a perceived leniency in direction of Morocco from the event officers.
Regragui, nevertheless, has poured chilly water on these conspiracies, saying: “It’s at all times a disgrace to go down this path.
“They need to make folks imagine that matches are at all times received this fashion.
“Let’s not child ourselves, it’s at all times been the case on the African continent to sow doubts and controversies. You journalists have to do your job.
“A penalty might be given a technique in a single match and never in one other. A handball is named in a single match and never in one other.
“I watch numerous matches as a result of we have now many gamers in Europe, and the controversies are the identical all over the place, in Africa or in Europe.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nigeria – Ademola Lookman
Ademola Lookman has been immediately concerned in 11 targets in 11 appearances for Nigeria at AFCON (six targets, 5 assists); greater than every other participant throughout the final two editions.
He’s additionally the one participant with 5+ targets and 5+ assists for the reason that begin of the 2023 version, and he will likely be out so as to add to his tally at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah.
Morocco – Brahim Diaz
Brahim Diaz has scored in all 5 matches on the 2025 AFCON and will develop into the primary participant within the competitors’s historical past to attain in six totally different matches in a single version.
Certainly, within the twenty first century, solely Vincent Aboubakar (eight with Cameroon in 2022) has scored extra targets than the on-loan AC Milan midfielder’s 5, whereas Ahmed Faras (six) is the one participant to web extra instances for Morocco on the event.
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
Nigeria and Morocco will meet on the AFCON for the primary time since 2004. Together with the newest one, Morocco have received three of their 5 general video games in opposition to Nigeria within the competitors (L2). Solely Algeria (4) have overwhelmed them extra usually.
They’ve confronted off within the semi-finals at AFCON as soon as beforehand, again within the 1980 version. That match was received 1-0 by Nigeria, who then went on to carry the trophy for the primary of the 3 times they’ve accomplished so (1980, 1994 and 2013).
Nigeria wish to attain their ninth ultimate on the AFCON, in addition to accomplish that in back-to-back editions for simply the second time (beforehand in 1988 and 1990). Morocco, in the meantime, have solely reached the ultimate of the competitors as soon as of their historical past (2004).
Morocco and Nigeria are the one two groups that haven’t trailed at any level throughout this version of AFCON, whereas Nigeria are the facet with the best share of their match time main (64%).
Morocco have led for 50% of their matches, which is the third-highest share coming into the semi-finals, behind opponents Nigeria (64%) and Senegal (52%).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Nigeria – 39.4%
Draw – 26.8%
Morocco – 33.8%
