There is every reason for Morocco’s Atlas Lions to enter into panic mode as they countenance confrontation with the very efficient Nigeria machine in the last-four of the ongoing 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Three-time champions Nigeria have done enough to convince those who have seen them play here that they are not in the North African Kingdom for a picnic. They have shown class, character and charisma, and more than half of their 16 goals in the five matches they have played at the championship have ‘team’ written all over them.
From four-goal-and-two-assists Victor Osimhen (35 goals in 51 matches – only two short of the Nigeria international goals-record), to three-goal-and-five-assists Ademola Lookman, to two-goal-and-one-assist Akor Adams, to two-goal Raphael Onyedika, to two-assists Samuel Chukwueze, to line-breaking passmaster Alex Iwobi (36 in the knockout phase so far), and a diligent rearguard, the Super Eagles have shown cold brutality and quiet authority in 450 minutes of exhilarating football.
Nigeria’s game has been awe-inspiring. The defence has been very well-knitted, with Calvin Bassey and Bruno Onyemaechi even joining attacks, and against Algeria, wing-back Bright Osayi-Samuel was imperious as he defended with as much confidence as he did going forward. Centreback Semi Ajayi scored Nigeria’s first goal of the tournament, against Tanzania.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi will miss Wednesday’s clash as a result of suspension, but Raphael Onyedika and Frank Onyeka have the steel and granite to keep things tight in the middle as Iwobi breaks the line with visionary passes.
From all indications, Wednesday’s game inside the 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium will turn out to be the sternest test that the Atlas Lions have faced since their semi-final accomplishment at the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals, and comes against a team that has every reason to win this year’s AFCON, including failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
Both teams possess the fury and fire to make it a memorable night for world football’s devotees. Morocco have Brahim Diaz, the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals, as well as three-goal Ayoub El Kaabi, captain Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Ismael Saibari and Azzedine Ounahi.
Nigeria have scored 158 goals in their 109 matches in AFCON history, and have lost only four of their last 23 matches in the competition, including last term’s Final against hosts Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan.
However, the Super Eagles have not faced North African opposition consecutively in the knockout stages of the AFCON since defeating Morocco, and subsequently Algeria, to claim their first title on home soil 46 years ago.
The Atlas Lions got the better of the Eagles on their way to lifting their only AFCON title in Ethiopia 50 years ago. Backhanded compliments have been exchanged in the same competition this millennium with Nigeria winning 2-0 in Lagos in 2000 and Morocco winning 1-0 in Tunisia in 2004.
MEMORABLE ENCOUNTERS
Morocco Vs Nigeria (Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games Qualifier: Dakar)
After both teams were stalemated in two legs of the qualifying series (Nigeria won 3-0 in Lagos and Morocco won 4-1 in Casablanca), world football-governing body, FIFA, ruled that there had to be a one-leg playoff to determine the winner. It was the period before the away-goal-counts-double principle.
Asuquo Ekpe, with a brace, and ‘wonderboy’ Paul Hamilton accounted for the defeat of Morocco in Lagos. Hamilton scored Nigeria’s only goal in the return leg in Casablanca. However, the Atlas Lions edged the tie in Dakar and took the ticket.
Morocco Vs Nigeria (1976 Africa Cup of Nations: Addis Ababa)
A young, talented, driven and agile Nigeria team had stunned Cup holders Zaire (now DR Congo) 4-2 in their first match at the continental finals in Ethiopia. However, they fell 1-3 to the Atlas Lions in their third game, after a 1-0 win over Sudan.
The wins over Zaire and Sudan qualified the Eagles for the final round of a tournament that remains the only one till date to have been played on league basis. In that final round, they came up against Morocco again. Baba Otu Mohammed scored just before the hour but Ahmed Faras and Redouane El Guezzar won it for Morocco with late goals. Morocco emerged champions while the Eagles, who defeated Egypt 3-2 in their final game, took bronze.
Nigeria Vs Morocco (1976 Olympics Qualifying Match: Lagos)
Only three weeks after the disappointment of Addis Ababa, the opportunity presented itself for the Eagles to exact their revenge on the Atlas Lions. In a Montreal Olympics qualifying match at the National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria swept to a commanding 3-1 win thanks to goals by Thompson Usiyen (a brace) and Kelechi ‘Caterpillar’ Emeteole.
Nigeria lost the return by a lone goal, and qualified for Montreal. However, the Government of Nigeria led an African boycott of the Games as a result of host nation Canada’s dalliance with New Zealand, which had sporting ties with apartheid South Africa.
Nigeria Vs Morocco (1980 AFCON semi final: Lagos)
The Green Eagles were flying high in the first AFCON to be hosted by Nigeria, and the Atlas Lions could not stop them, as Felix Owolabi lashed in the only goal early in the semi final encounter at the National Stadium, Lagos to set the stage for a Nigeria, Algeria Final, which the Eagles won to claim their first AFCON title.
Morocco Vs Nigeria (1984 AFCON qualifying match: Rabat)
After a scoreless draw in Benin City, Nigeria and Morocco again ended it 0-0 in the return in Rabat, necessitating a penalty shootout to determine the winner. Nigeria won 4-3 on penalties and qualified for Cote d’Ivoire 1984.
Morocco Vs Nigeria (1984 Olympics Qualifying Match: Casablanca)
Both teams had again ended the first leg in Lagos 0-0, and the same result was returned in Casablanca in the race to the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Morocco won 4-3 and qualified to the next round.
Nigeria Vs Morocco (2000 Africa Cup of Nations: Lagos)
Goals by Finidi George and Julius Aghahowa gave Nigeria victory and qualification to the quarter-finals of the AFCON finals they co-hosted with Ghana, setting up a clash with the Teranga Lions of Senegal.
Morocco Vs Nigeria (2014 African Nations Championship: Cape Town)
Morocco took the game by the scruff from the first blast of the whistle and sped to a 3-0 lead after 45 minutes at the Cape Town Stadium.
However, Nigeria, coached by Stephen Keshi (of blessed memory) returned from recess a different proposition, and drew level before winning in extra time to qualify for the semi finals.