Nigeria vs Morocco Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Two giants of African football now face off against each other at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat as an ever improving Nigeria take on Morocco this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Matches will be televised across the Channel 4 network / USA – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – All 4 & Channel 4 Sport YouTube / USA – beIN Sports Connect & Fubo
Nigeria preview: Strong Nigerians
Despite missing out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria have seemingly immediately turned things around under Eric Chelle with even off-field squabbles, such as the one involving Victor Osimhen, now being eased, too.
Osimhen, who was supposedly leaving camp after the round of 16, instead opened the scoring in their very impressive and comfortable 2-0 defeat of Algeria in the quarter-finals in Marrakech, with Sevilla man Akor Adams getting the other.
Morocco preview: Impressive Moroccans
2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists, the first African team to reach the final four of the global tournament, Morocco headed into this tournament, that they are hosting, as the favourites, and not much has happened to change that overall view.
Walid Regragui’s Atlas Lions eased to a comfortable 2-0 defeat of Cameroon in Rabat the other day with Real Madrid man Brahim Diaz opening the scoring for the Moroccans before Ismael Saibari clinched the victory mid-way through the second-half.
Nigeria team news: No need to change
There doesn’t appear to be any off-field arguing to worry about and only Cyriel Dessers remains an injury absentee for the Super Eagles so there is no need to change the side.
Predicted XI (4-1-2-1-2): Nwabali; Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Ndidi; Onyeka, Iwobi; Lookman; Osimhen, Adams
Unavailable: Dessers (Injured)
Questionable:
Morocco team news: Still no Ounahi
Girona midfielder Azzedine Ounahi has been a key man for Morocco in recent years but he remains missing through injury for this semi-final, having picked up a calf issue.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Bono; Hakimi, Aguerd, Masina, Mazraoui; El Khannouss, El Aynaoui, Saibari; Brahim Diaz, En-Nesyri, Abde Ez
Unavailable: Saiss (Injured), Ounahi (Injured)
Questionable: TBC
Nigeria vs Morocco prediction
Nigeria arguably have the team stacked full with the most stars in Africa, in particular the likes of Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, who reportedly fell out earlier on in the tournament. However, their poor performances in the last 12 to 18 months have come due to a lack of tactical cohesion, which the Moroccans have alongside an impressive level of quality themselves. It’ll be a close contest but, especially with their home advantage, siding with Morocco is the way to go for this one.
Nigeria vs Morocco tip: Double chance – Morocco to win or draw
