Brahim Diaz has five goals while Osimhen has four goals in the AFCON
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is set to deliver one of the most titanic clashes as two giants, Morocco and Nigeria, face off for a place in the final.
Both teams have produced spectacular performances that put them in a formidable position heading into this semi-final encounter.
Here is how both teams have fared in the tournament so far:
AFCON 2025: Nigeria and Algeria set for high-stakes quarterfinal clash
Morocco
The Atlas Lions began their campaign with a 2–0 win over Comoros, with Real Madrid forward Brahim Díaz announcing his presence at the tournament. El Kaabi also scored an impressive goal to seal the victory.
In their second game, they faced a tough challenge, drawing 1–1 against a resilient Mali side who matched the hosts equally to secure a point.
Their third game was another epic moment as they thrashed Zambia 3–0 to top Group A with 7 points. They then progressed to face Tanzania, where Brahim Díaz’s goal separated the two sides.
In the quarter-final, what was expected to be a crunch game turned out to be manageable for the Atlas Lions, who won 2–0.
So far, Brahim Díaz has scored five goals in the tournament, while El Kaabi and other teammates have also contributed. Morocco have scored nine goals and conceded just one after five games.
Nigeria
The West African powerhouse commenced their journey in the group stage with a 2–1 victory over Tanzania, as Ademola Lookman and Semi Ajayi found the net.
They went on to face Tunisia, where Nigeria took a comfortable lead, but a lapse in concentration nearly cost them as the match almost ended in a draw. However, they managed to snatch all three points with a 3–2 win.
Victor Osimhen opened his AFCON goalscoring account in that game, while Wilfred Ndidi and Lookman added goals to finish off their tough opponents.
With six points after two games, Nigeria already qualified, yet they did not relent in their third group match. Raphael Onyedika’s brace and Paul Onuachu’s goal sealed a 3–1 win over Uganda, marking an excellent start to the campaign.
In the Round of 16, the Super Eagles smashed Mozambique 4–0 to further boost their AFCON campaign and strengthen their tag as favorites. Osimhen netted a brace, with Lookman and Akor Adams scoring the other goals.
The quarter-final gave Nigeria the chance to make a statement, and they lived up to expectations by beating Algeria 2–0 comfortably. Once again, the big names delivered, with Osimhen and Adams finding the net.
This result changed their fortunes in the tournament, with many now believing they have established themselves as one of the best teams well-placed to lift the trophy.
After five matches, Nigeria have scored 14 goals, conceded 4, and kept two clean sheets. Galatasaray striker Osimhen has scored four goals, Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman has three, while Akor Adams has registered two.
With both teams faring closely in terms of statistics, the game might go down to the wire, possibly traveling into extra time and even penalties to separate the two sides. It remains to be seen how it will unfold.
SB/EB
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