When Nigeria and Morocco walk onto the pitch at the elegant Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Wednesday, the semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 will be more than a contest for a place in the final. It will be a collision of history, ambition and unfinished business.
The Super Eagles will arrive in Rabat chasing a fourth continental crown, having swept aside every opponent so far with five wins from five matches.
Morocco, buoyed by home support and an unbroken run of four victories and a draw, are seeking to end a long wait for a second AFCON title — their only triumph coming nearly half a century ago.
Coincidentally, both teams’ path crossed twice at the history-making 1976 AFCON, the first and only one ever played on league basis throughout.
It was at Ethiopia 1986 that Nigeria first made impression at the competition and ended up as the third-place team, a position that was celebrated as if Nigeria won the actual trophy.
Morocco on the other hand went on to win the trophy, the only success so far in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Beyond the two encounters of 1976, clashes of Nigeria and Morocco are rare and far in between.
Despite the rarity of their recent meetings, familiarity runs deep. This will be the sixth time both nations clash at the Africa Cup of Nations, and notably, every previous AFCON encounter between them has produced a winner.
It is also their first AFCON meeting in 22 years and just the second time they meet at the semi-final stage.
As it is well known, their rivalry dates back to 1976, when Morocco twice defeated Nigeria in the group stage — 3–1 and 2–1 — on the road to lifting their maiden and only AFCON trophy. Four years later, however, the balance shifted dramatically. In the 1980 semi-final, Nigeria edged Morocco 1–0, with Felix Owolabi’s ninth-minute strike sending the Super Eagles toward their first continental title on home soil.
Subsequent meetings have swung like a pendulum. Nigeria eliminated Morocco in the decisive Group D clash at AFCON 2000, winning 2–0 through goals from Finidi George and Julius Aghahowa.
Morocco had the last AFCON word in 2004, when Youssef Hadji’s late strike secured a 1–0 group-stage victory.
Beyond AFCON finals, the two nations have also crossed paths in qualifiers, most notably in the goalless two-legged second round of qualification for the 1984 tournament. Nigeria advanced only after a penalty shoot-out, underlining how tight and unforgiving this rivalry has often been.
But at the same period and in similar fashion, Morocco edged out Nigeria in the qualification for the football event of Los Angeles 1984.
Morocco currently hold the historical edge overall, with six wins to Nigeria’s three in 11 meetings, alongside two draws.
Yet trends offer intrigue rather than certainty: seven of the 11 goals scored in their AFCON encounters have come in the second half, hinting at a contest that may be decided by patience, nerve and late precision.
For Nigeria, the challenge is amplified by the identity of the opponent as tournament hosts. The Super Eagles’ record against host nations at AFCON is mixed — three wins, three draws and four defeats from ten encounters.
Fresh memories remain of the 2023 final loss to Côte d’Ivoire, where Nigeria fell 2–1 after having beaten the same opponents in the group stage.
History has not been kind to Nigeria in knockout clashes against hosts. In five such meetings, their only outright victory came in the third-place match against Mali in 2002.
Losses to Algeria (1990 final), Ghana (2008 quarter-final), Tunisia (2004 semi-final, on penalties) and Côte d’Ivoire (2023 final) still linger as cautionary tales.
Yet, if history warns, form encourages. Nigeria’s perfect record in the tournament contrasts with Morocco’s slight stumble, and the Super Eagles arrive with momentum, confidence and a sense of destiny. Morocco, meanwhile, carry the weight — and energy — of home expectation, knowing that a chance to end a 49-year title drought may not come often.
When the lights blaze in Rabat on Wednesday night, one long unbeaten run will end. Whether it is Nigeria’s quest for a fourth star or Morocco’s dream of a home-grown renaissance that survives will depend not just on history, but on who writes the next decisive chapter.
Past Encounters
DATE MATCH/VENUE RESULT
16 November 1963 Olympic qualifier, Lagos Nigeria 3-0 Morocco
8 March 1964 Olympic qualifier, Rabat Morocco 4-1 Nigeria (4-4 aggregate. Away Goal rule not in place)
26 March 1964 Olympic qualifier, Dakar Morocco 2-1 Nigeria
21 September 1969 World Cup qualifier, Rabat Morocco 2-1 Nigeria
8 November 1969 World Cup qualifier, Ibadan Nigeria 2-0 Morocco
20 February 1972 Friendly, Lagos Nigeria 3-0 Morocco
6 March 1976 AFCON, Dire Dawa Morocco 3-1 Nigeria
11 March 1976 AFCON, Addis Ababa Morocco 2-1 Nigeria
3 April 1976 Olympic qualifier, Lagos Nigeria 3-1 Morocco
18 April 1976 Olympic qualifier, Tangier Morocco 1-0 Nigeria
19 March 1980 AFCON semifinal, Lagos Nigeria 1-0 Morocco
14 August 1983 AFCON qualifier, Lagos Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
28 August 1983 AFCON qualifier, Rabat Morocco 0-0 Nigeria (3-4 pso)
11 February 1984 Olympic qualifier, Benin Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
26 February 1984 Olympic qualifier, Rabat Morocco 0-0 Nigeria (4-3 pso)
12 December 1996 King Hassan II Cup, Casablanca Morocco 2-0 Nigeria
3 February 2000 AFCON, Lagos Nigeria 2-0 Morocco
27 January 2004 AFCON, Monastir Morocco 1-0 Nigeria
25 January 2014 CHAN, Cape Town Morocco 3-4 Nigeria
4 February 2018 CHAN, Rabat Morocco 4-0 Nigeria
By Kunle Solaja, Casablanca