Kunle Adelabu
As the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), gradually winding down, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, will, tonight, be gunning for the eighth final appearance at the continental tournament as they take on the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the second semi-final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco.
Super Eagles was runner – up in the AFCON two years ago.
This match will be the 12th encounter with Morocco at AFCON with the Atlas Lions winning six times and Nigeria thrice with two draws. This is also the second time that the Nigerian team will be meeting the Atlas Lions in the semi – final match. Nigeria has won 8 and lost 7.
The Super Eagles, formerly called ‘Green Eagles’, will also be playing in its 16th semi -final games at the AFCON, and have appeared at the AFCON on 20 occasions.
It has appeared in AFCON final matches in 1980, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1994, 2000, 2013 and 2023 and won the Nations cup for the first time in 1980, as the host and also went on to win it in 1994 and 2013 against Tunisia and South Africa respectively.
The Eagles were runners -up to Cameroon in 1984, again to the Indomitable of Cameroon in 1988, and Algeria in 1990. Nigeria lost the AFCON finals to Cameroon for the third time in 2000, when Nigeria hosted the tounament with Cameroon and also lost to Ivory Coast in 2023.
Nigeria also holds the record as the country with the most third place finish (8 times): 1976, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2019.
The Super Eagles have been undefeated in the ongoing 2025 AFCON, and will also be playing against the host/country that it has received the most support from at the ongoing continental championship when they meet the Atlas Lions tonight.
The Nigerian team is also ahead in terms of goals – 14, technical and tactical and overall assessment at the AFCON. The Super Eagles have scored at least two goals on each of the first five matches played at the ongoing AFCON. Tonight encounter will be the sixth.
Like the Nigerian team, the Atlas Lions have participated in 20 AFCON tournaments.
On the other hand, Morocco is appearing in the AFCON semi -finals for the fifth time – 1980, 1986, 1988, 2004 and 2025. The Atlas Lions lost successive semi -finals in 1986 and 1988, while the teams that had eliminated them in the semi -finals went on to win the tournament.
So far, Morocco have won one AFCON title so far, and a victory against Nigeria tonight would take them to the second final and first in over 20 years.
The Moroccan team won four matches and drew one at the ongoing AFCON.
A win against Nigeria, would also make the Atlas Lions the 15th host country to reach the final of the AFCON tournament.
