Nigeria boss Eric Chelle has revealed his team could adopt a more defensive approach for Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against hosts Morocco.
Chelle’s team, who finished second in the 2023 edition, are in good form this year, topping the charts in goals (14), expected goals (12.8) and big chances (26).
They also scored at least two goals in all five matches of this tournament and could become the first team to do so in six consecutive matches in one edition.
However, they face a tough test in Morocco, who have won their last three matches at AFCON without conceding a goal, while yet to concede a goal from open play.
Nigeria have not won the competition since their victory over Burkina Faso in 2013, and Chelle believes a more reserved game plan could be more successful for his team.
“Morocco is a strong team and there will be pressure against the host country,” Chelle told reporters.
“I feel like my team is tired, so maybe I have to change my approach. Maybe we give Morocco the ball and wait for them.”
“We’ve seen that they have a hard time when they run into a low block. I think that’s how we’ll start.
“We will try to keep it going in the first half and then play our game in the second half.”
Morocco, meanwhile, has had a dream campaign at the first AFCON tournament they have hosted since 1988, with Cameroon emerging victorious.
But Walid Regragui’s side have the chance to make history themselves with a semi-final win that would earn them a place in an AFCON showpiece for the first time since 2004.
They have already beaten Tanzania and Cameroon in the knockout stages on their way to the last four, although their progress has been criticized by the media as they are the hosts.
Some broadcast pundits and supporters online have complained about the leniency towards Morocco shown by tournament officials.
However, Regragui has poured cold water on these conspiracies, saying: “It is always a shame to take this path.
“They want people to believe that games are always won this way.
“Let’s not fool ourselves: on the African continent it has always been the case to sow doubts and controversies. You journalists have to do your job.”
“A penalty can be given one way in one match and not in another. A handball is called in one match and not in the other.”
“I watch a lot of matches because we have a lot of players in Europe and the controversies are the same everywhere, in Africa or in Europe.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nigeria – Ademola Lookman
Ademola Lookman was directly involved in eleven goals in eleven games for Nigeria at AFCON (six goals, five assists); more than any other player in the last two editions.
He is also the only player with more than five goals and more than five assists since the start of the 2023 edition, and he will be looking to add to his tally at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah.
Morocco – Brahim Diaz
Brahim Diaz has scored in all five matches of the AFCON 2025 and could become the first player in the history of the competition to score in six different matches in one edition.
In the 21st century, only Vincent Aboubakar (eight with Cameroon in 2022) has scored more goals than the on-loan AC Milan midfielder’s five, while Ahmed Faras (six) is the only player to score more goals for Morocco at the tournament.
MATCH PREDICTION: Draw
Nigeria and Morocco will meet for the first time since 2004 at the AFCON. Including the most recent, Morocco have won three of their five overall matches against Nigeria in the competition (L2). Only Algeria (four) has defeated them more often.
They have previously faced each other in the semi-finals of AFCON in the 1980 edition. That match was won 1-0 by Nigeria, who went on to lift the trophy for the first of the three times they have done so (1980, 1994 and 2013).
Nigeria is looking to reach its ninth final at the AFCON and that too for the second time in consecutive editions (previously in 1988 and 1990). Morocco, meanwhile, has reached the final of the competition only once in its history (2004).
Morocco and Nigeria are the only two teams not to have trailed at any point during this edition of AFCON, while Nigeria is the team with the highest percentage of their match time in the lead (64%).
Morocco have led 50% of their matches, which is the third highest percentage reaching the semi-finals, behind opponents Nigeria (64%) and Senegal (52%).
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Nigeria – 39.4%
Draw – 26.8%
Morocco – 33.8%
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