Sport
Nigeria Face Tough Morocco Test in Historic AFCON Semi-Final
Nigeria vs Morocco AFCON semi-final sees Super Eagles chase a fourth title against hosts seeking first crown since 1976
Nigeria vs Morocco AFCON semi-final headlines a decisive clash at the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, as the Super Eagles take on tournament hosts Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Tuesday, January 14.
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Kick-off is scheduled for 9pm local time (20h00 GMT), with both nations entering the last four unbeaten and carrying contrasting but equally compelling ambitions.
Nigeria, three-time African champions, are bidding for a fourth AFCON title, while Morocco are chasing a long-awaited return to continental glory, having last lifted the trophy in 1976.
The match marks the sixth AFCON meeting between the two countries and their first at the tournament in 22 years.
It is also only the second time they will face each other in an AFCON semi-final.
Nigeria won the previous semi-final encounter in 1980, when a ninth-minute goal from Felix Owolabi sealed a 1-0 victory on their way to their maiden AFCON triumph.
The Super Eagles arrive in Rabat in commanding form, having won all five matches at AFCON 2025. They have scored at least two goals in every game, a feat Nigeria have only achieved once before, in 2000.
Their 14 goals at the current finals represent the country’s highest tally at a single AFCON edition. Nigeria have also scored in 12 consecutive AFCON matches, underlining their attacking consistency.
Victor Osimhen has been central to that dominance, netting four goals and contributing assists in the tournament.
Nigeria have never lost an AFCON match in which Osimhen has scored or assisted, a powerful statistic ahead of Tuesday’s encounter.
Morocco, meanwhile, booked their semi-final place with a 1-0 quarter-final win over Cameroon, reaching the last four for the first time since 2004.
It is only the second time the Atlas Lions have progressed beyond the quarter-finals in AFCON history.
As hosts, Morocco have built their campaign on defensive resilience, recording four clean sheets, the most they have ever managed at a single AFCON. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has set a national record in the process.
Offensively, Brahim Díaz has been Morocco’s standout performer, scoring five goals and becoming the first player since 2021 to score in five matches at a single AFCON.
He now sits one goal shy of Ahmed Faras’ all-time AFCON scoring record for Morocco.
Historically, Morocco hold the overall edge in meetings between the sides, with six wins to Nigeria’s three in 11 encounters.
However, all five AFCON meetings between them have produced a winner, with momentum often swinging late, as seven of the 11 AFCON goals in this fixture have come in the second half.
Nigeria’s record against host nations at AFCON adds another layer of intrigue.
The Super Eagles have faced tournament hosts ten times, winning three, drawing three and losing four.
In knockout matches against hosts, Nigeria have won only once in open play.
Still, Nigeria’s pedigree at this stage is formidable. Tuesday’s match will be their record-extending 16th AFCON semi-final, and a win would send them into a ninth final, drawing level with Ghana.
For Morocco, victory would mark only their second AFCON final appearance and their first in more than two decades, potentially igniting scenes of national celebration.
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As Rabat prepares for a charged night under the lights, the Nigeria vs Morocco AFCON semi-final promises intensity, history and consequence, with one nation moving a step closer to continental immortality.
By Tai Emeka Obasi,
It is exceedingly terrible for clubs operating in a league as supremely elite as the English Premier League, EPL, to fraudulently cheat themselves to massive success.
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Rules are rules, and supposedly responsible club managements should comply with them in administering a game termed the beautiful game.
Manchester City is currently in the eye of the storm for all the wrong reasons.
A whopping 115 breaches were brought against the club, with reports now indicating that an independent commission found City guilty of 114 of them.
The club, however, maintains that the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality.
Manchester City chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has appealed to the fans to remain calm and faithful, insisting that the club will continue to defend its position and pursue the available legal process.
According to reports, Manchester City is expected to appeal the verdict. The sanctions have not yet been announced, and the possible consequences could include a heavy fine, points deduction, stripping of titles or even relegation.
From the available reporting, however, there is no basis for football fans to start celebrating the prospect of receiving Manchester City’s trophies.
Even if titles were eventually stripped, the relevant period under investigation is 2009 to 2018.
During that period, Manchester City won three Premier League titles, in 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2017/18, as well as three League Cups, in 2013/14, 2015/16 and 2017/18.
That immediately puts a different complexion on the matter.
For instance, Manchester United finished runners-up to City in the 2011/12 and 2017/18 Premier League seasons, while Liverpool finished second in 2013/14.
But whether those titles would actually be reassigned to the runners-up is another matter entirely.
There is no automatic rule that says a stripped title simply moves to the team that finished second. Any such outcome would depend on the eventual sanction imposed by the relevant authorities.
The same applies to Arsenal and the League Cup. Arsenal were beaten by City in the 2018 final, but that does not mean Arsenal would automatically inherit the trophy if City were sanctioned.
Expert opinion has suggested that the eventual punishment could include a substantial financial penalty and a huge points deduction, potentially severe enough to threaten City with relegation.
But until the sanction is formally determined, nobody can say with certainty what punishment Manchester City will receive.
For Gunners fans, therefore, we should lower our expectations from City’s debacle. Even if Manchester City are eventually found guilty after the appeal process and even if they are relegated, Arsenal will not stroll to this season’s title.
Our last match against Brighton and Hove Albion is a huge warning that our squad is not as complete as it is generally acclaimed to be.
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Like we did last season, Arsenal must win the title on the pitch, not wait for Manchester City to lose it in the courtroom.
That is the real lesson.
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