Nigeria vs Morocco
Wednesday, January 14 | 9:00 PM (Nigerian time)
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Senegal vs Egypt
Wednesday, January 14 | 6:00 PM (Nigerian time)
Grand Stande de Tanger, Tangier
The 2025 AFCON semifinals are here, and two blockbuster matchups will determine who plays for the AFCON 2025 title.
Nigeria VS Morocco
Nigeria, the tournament’s most lethal attacking side, faces Morocco’s rock-solid defence in front of 68,000 home fans.
Nigeria: Unstoppable Force:
Five games. Five wins. Fourteen goals scored. The Super Eagles have coasted through the tournament. Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Mozambique (4-0), and Algeria (2-0) have all been swept aside.
With 14 goals in five matches, Nigeria sits just two goals short of the AFCON single-tournament record of 16. And with two games left, that record is within reach.
Ademola Lookman has been the star, with seven goal involvements (4 goals, 3 assists) at this tournament. Across the last two AFCONs, his 11 goal contributions are the most by any player. The 2024 African Footballer of the Year is Nigeria’s man for the big occasions.
Victor Osimhen has found form with four goals and two assists. His partnership with Lookman and Akor Adams has been lethal.
Alex Iwobi has been pulling the strings in midfield, Bruno Onyemaechi has been a revelation at left-back, and the central defence partnership of Bassey and Ajayi has been rock-solid.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi is suspended after picking up a second yellow against Algeria. His absence in midfield might prove significant.
Morocco: Immovable Object
Morocco has won four of its five games, conceded just two goals throughout the tournament, and eliminated Cameroon 2-0 in the quarterfinals.
Brahim Díaz is chasing AFCON history. He’s scored in five consecutive games, matching a 58-year-old record. One more goal, and he becomes the first player ever to score in six straight AFCON matches. The Real Madrid forward has accounted for more than half of Morocco’s nine tournament goals.
Morocco’s defence has been nearly impenetrable, and with 68,000 home fans behind them, they’ll believe they can stop Nigeria’s attack.
Head-to-Head: This is the sixth AFCON meeting between the two nations. All five previous AFCON encounters have produced a winner. At AFCON specifically, Morocco holds the edge with 3 wins to Nigeria’s 2. Overall across all competitions, Morocco leads with 6 wins to Nigeria’s 3, with 2 draws.
This is their first AFCON meeting in 22 years, since Morocco won 1-0 in the 2004 group stage. But the last time they met in an AFCON semifinal was in 1980—Nigeria won 1-0 and went on to lift their first AFCON title.
The Verdict: Nigeria is the form team with the tournament’s best attack. Morocco have home advantage and a historic defence. Expect a tight, tense battle decided by fine margins.
Senegal vs Egypt:
The second semifinal pits Senegal’s 2022 champions against Egypt’s record seven-time winners.
Senegal
Senegal won AFCON 2022 and is looking to win a second title in three editions. They’ve been solid throughout, though not as explosive as Nigeria. Sadio Mané remains their talisman, but this Senegal side is built on defensive organisation and midfield control. They’ve quietly navigated the tournament without the fireworks of others, but champions know how to win when it matters.
Egypt
Egypt is AFCON’s most successful nation with seven titles, but its last win was in 2010. They’ve been patient, tactical, and efficient under coach Hossam Hassan. Mohamed Salah is the star, but Egypt’s strength lies in its collective discipline. They don’t blow teams away; they suffocate them, then strike when the moment arrives.
Head-to-Head: Senegal and Egypt have met 15 times across all competitions. Senegal hold a slight edge with 7 wins to Egypt’s 6, with 2 draws. At AFCON specifically, they’ve met 5 times: Egypt has won 2, Senegal has won 2, and 1 ended in a draw.
Most memorably, Senegal beat Egypt on penalties in the 2022 AFCON final, then eliminated them again on penalties in the 2022 World Cup playoff. Egypt will be desperate for revenge.
The Verdict: Senegal has momentum and Sadio Mane. Egypt has history and Mohamed Salah. This one could easily go to penalties again.
What’s at Stake
The winners meet in the final on Sunday, January 18, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Nigeria is aiming for its ninth AFCON final and only its second consecutive final appearance in the nation’s history. Morocco wants to lift the trophy on home soil for the first time since 1976. Senegal is chasing back-to-back titles. Egypt wants to end a 16-year drought.
Two teams will progress. The other two will battle for third place.
Wednesday can’t come soon enough.
