Manny Ita
The Nigerian Super Eagles are scheduled to face tournament hosts Morocco in a high-stakes semi-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tonight, Wednesday, January 14, 2026. The match, slated for 9:00 PM Nigerian Time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, is being widely characterized as a “final before the final,” with both teams entering the fixture unbeaten. While the encounter marks the first AFCON meeting between the two sides in 22 years, Nigeria holds a historical edge, having defeated Morocco 1-0 in the 1980 semi-finals. Nigeria arrives at this stage with a record-breaking 14 goals in the current campaign, having won all five of its matches, while Morocco carries a record of four wins and one draw.
Significant conversation has emerged following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) appointment of Ghanaian official Daniel Nii Laryea to oversee the match. Laryea will be assisted by Zakhele Siwela of South Africa and Souru Phatsoane of Lesotho, with South African official Abongile Tom leading the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team. The choice of a Ghanaian referee has drawn skepticism from sections of the Nigerian fanbase due to the long-standing football rivalry between the two nations, although proponents of the appointment point to Laryea’s status as one of the most experienced officials on the continent.
Tactically, the Super Eagles will be forced to adjust as captain and midfield anchor Wilfred Ndidi is suspended following a second yellow card received during the 2-0 quarter-final win over Algeria. Head coach Éric Chelle is expected to start Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika in his stead, while star striker Victor Osimhen is anticipated to lead the team as captain for the clash. Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has expressed high confidence in the squad’s current trajectory, stating, “The way these Super Eagles have played the last three games is the best I have seen Super Eagles play in 20 years. Nigeria now forces the opposition to play defensive non-stop… they put pressure on you from the defense and the midfield.” Oliseh further observed that midfielder Alex Iwobi is “running the show like an orchestra.”
In a pre-match press conference, Iwobi attributed the team’s cohesion to a sense of “brotherhood” fostered by previous international setbacks. He noted, “It is the family environment we have created, the brotherhood within the team. Everyone cares about how the other feels… we are using past disappointments as a push factor for ourselves and our country.” The team has reportedly drawn motivation from the 2023 AFCON final loss and the disappointment of missing the 2026 World Cup as they seek to secure a place in the tournament’s final.
