The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has reached the semifinal stage, and a event devoid of shocks now gives two mouthwatering ties with hosts Morocco seeking to see off the challenges of their fellow continental heavyweights.
Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria and Sadio Mane’s Senegal stay in rivalry to win the trophy in Rabat on Sunday, even when house benefit makes Morocco favourites.
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World Cup semifinalists in 2022, Morocco are Africa’s top-ranked crew and strategy Wednesday’s semifinal in opposition to Nigeria within the capital defending an unbeaten file since dropping to South Africa on the final AFCON.
Walid Regragui’s facet have conceded only one objective in 5 matches right here, and doubts about their potential to deal with the big strain of enjoying at house had been blown away with their efficiency in beating Cameroon 2-0 within the quarterfinals.
Regragui urged his crew to hold on with their momentum after their “historic” achievement of reaching the quarterfinals.
“We have to simply maintain going one recreation at a time. We’ve not performed something but,” Regragui insisted after the quarterfinal win.
Captain and present African Participant of the 12 months Achraf Hakimi is match once more after damage, and in Actual Madrid winger Brahim Diaz, scorer of 5 objectives in 5 video games, they’ve most likely the event’s excellent participant.
“He can grow to be the very best participant on the earth if he needs to,” remarked Regragui after the Cameroon recreation.
Regragui has angrily rejected ideas his crew is benefitting from beneficial refereeing choices because the hosts.
“We’re the crew to beat. Because the crew to beat, individuals will attempt to discover all types of causes to say Morocco has a bonus,” Regragui stated after his crew’s win over Cameroon.
“The one benefit that Morocco has at this Africa Cup is enjoying in entrance of 65,000 spectators. The remainder is on the sector, we converse on the sector.”
Morocco are Africa’s main energy proper now and, not like Nigeria, are gearing up for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The Atlas Lions lately gained the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 in Qatar, however their AFCON file down the years has been underwhelming. That is their first semifinal since 2004, after they misplaced the ultimate to Tunisia.
Going additional again, Morocco beat Nigeria en path to lifting the trophy in 1976 – half a century on, that continues to be their solely continental title.
Can ‘improved’ Nigeria cease Morocco’s march?
Nigeria returned to Morocco with a lot to show after a penalty shootout defeat by the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a November playoff in Rabat ended their hopes of World Cup qualification.
There is perhaps 10 African international locations collaborating within the World Cup, and it’s exceptional that Nigeria, regardless of their footballing pedigree and the most important inhabitants on the continent, won’t be amongst them.
Nevertheless, their performances during the last three weeks have proven that to be an anomaly.
Nigeria had been runners-up on the final AFCON in 2024. Led by two former African Gamers of the 12 months in Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, they’re this event’s prime scorers with 14 objectives.
So what has modified from the failed World Cup qualifying marketing campaign?
“Nothing,” stated coach Eric Chelle, appointed precisely a 12 months in the past. “This is similar crew. The distinction is simply that they’ve improved as a result of they know what I would like.”
Nigeria’s masked Galatasaray striker Osimhen had gone seven AFCON matches with out discovering the online earlier than scoring in opposition to Tunisia within the group stage. He now has 4 in his final 4 matches.
Nigeria are additionally the event’s prime scorers general with 14 objectives in whole.
Shocks have been successfully non-existent at this AFCON, however Nigeria’s presence means 4 of the 5 top-ranked African groups are within the semis – the exception is Algeria, overwhelmed by the Tremendous Eagles on Saturday.
Salah’s final shot at AFCON glory?
Even when the hosts energy previous the Tremendous Eagles, their last problem won’t get any simpler.
The event’s different semifinal, additionally scheduled for Wednesday, in Tangier between Egypt and Senegal, is a repeat of the 2022 last, which the Lions of Teranga gained on penalties.
Senegal, ranked second in Africa and nineteenth on the earth, had been seen as the largest risk to Morocco earlier than the event and stand one recreation away from a 3rd last look in 4 editions.
They’ve an skilled facet, which incorporates Mane, who will come up in opposition to his previous Liverpool teammate, Salah.
Their presence means the final 5 gamers to win the African Participant of the 12 months prize are all within the semifinals.
Salah, who, like Osimhen, has 4 objectives on the event, has by no means gained AFCON, having twice been a dropping finalist.
He got here to Morocco having fallen from favour at his membership, however appears to have discovered happiness once more along with his nationwide crew as he appears to be like to fireplace Egypt to a record-extending eighth title.
“I’ve gained nearly each honour, however that is the one I’m ready for,” stated Salah after the quarterfinal win over the Ivory Coast, earlier than insisting the Pharaohs are actually the outsiders.
“We’re arising in opposition to actually good groups, most of whose gamers are primarily based in Europe, which makes it simpler for them.
“We’ve excellent gamers, however most play in Egypt. We’ve three gamers enjoying overseas, however all of them are in a tough state of affairs – none of them are enjoying for his or her golf equipment simply now,” he added, with a nod to his personal issues at Anfield.
