Former Nigerian international Segun Odegbami is confident Nigeria will come out on top in their semifinal clash against Morocco at the 2025 African Cup of Nations on Wednesday, SportPremi reports.
The Super Eagles face the host nations in their last four encounter at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, hoping to reach the final of the showpiece event for a second consecutive edition.
Back in January 2024, Nigeria faced host nations Ivory Coast in the final of the 2023 AFCON tournament, but suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat.
However, they head into this particular clash in full confidence considering the manner in which they dispatched Algeria in their quarterfinal encounter.
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The three-time AFCON winners dominated the encounter and enjoyed 57% possession, while limiting the Fennec Foxes to only three attempts all match and none on target.
The Super Eagles were able to seal a 2-0 win in the clash with goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams as the Desert Warriors crashed out in disappointing fashion.
Before that, they scored four times in their Round of 16 clash against Mozambique and breezed through the group stage with a 100% campaign, beating the likes of Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda to top spot in Group C.
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Morocco, meanwhile also defeated Cameroon by the same scoreline to reach their first semifinal at the African Cup of Nations since 2004.
What Odegbami said ahead of Nigeria’s crunch clash against Morocco
Odegbami, inspired Nigeria to a historic first AFCON title with a two-goal display in the 3-0 win over Algeria at the 1980 edition of the tournament.
According to the golden boot winner of that tournament, he believes the Moroccans must be filled with fear ahead of their clash against the Super Eagles, considering the level of performance displayed against Algeria in their quarterfinal clash.
“The immediate effect of the superbly controlled performance against Algeria is that the Moroccans must now be pissing in their pants in anxiety and dread of the Eagles on fire, a team now finding their rhythm, creating and scoring goals freely, and improving steadily from match to match!” Odegbami admitted.
“Wednesday is on everybody’s mind now. I am already playing the match in my mind. The Atlas Lions would be a tougher mountain to climb only because they would have the 12th ‘player’ on their side, a vociferous, 60,000-strong ‘army’ of supporters in the terraces.
“But then, these Eagles are primed and ready. They will do the ‘impossible’ and soar successfully over the Atlas Mountains!”
Nigeria, have played in Fez and Marrakech so far at the 2025 African Cup of Nations tournament, but will head to Rabat for the first time for their semifinal encounter against the host nation.
It promises to be a thriller at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, with kickoff at 9 PM on Wednesday night.
