Etafia Warns Super Eagles Face Tough Test Against Hosts Morocco

Former Nigeria goalkeeper Greg Etafia believes the Super Eagles will face a stern test against Morocco in their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final, as they come up against the continent’s top-ranked side playing on home soil.

The Super Eagles, who have won all their matches so far in the tournament, will take on the Atlas Lions in the semi-finals of the 2025 AFCON at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Wednesday.

The two nations will meet at the Africa Cup of Nations for the sixth time, with all five previous encounters producing a winner. This will be their first AFCON meeting in 22 years and the second time they face each other in a semi-final.

Four of their previous five AFCON clashes came during the group stages — twice in 1976, as well as in 2000 and 2004.

Their first AFCON meeting took place in 1976, when Morocco won both group-stage matches, 3-1 and 2-1, on their way to lifting their first and only AFCON title.

This will be the second semi-final meeting between the sides. Nigeria won the previous encounter in 1980, edging Morocco 1-0 with Felix Owolabi scoring in the ninth minute en route to the Super Eagles’ first AFCON crown.

They met again in 2000, when Nigeria eliminated Morocco in their final Group D match with a 2-0 victory, thanks to goals from Finidi George and Julius Aghahowa.

Their most recent AFCON meeting came in the 2004 group stages, where Morocco claimed a 1-0 win in their opening Group D match, with Youssef Hadji scoring the decisive goal in the 77th minute.

That tournament was particularly significant for Etafia, who was part of the Super Eagles squad as deputy to Vincent Enyeama. Morocco went on to reach the final, where they lost to hosts Tunisia, having notably thrashed South Africa 4-0 in the group stages.

“I just feel that Morocco are the number one team in Africa based on the rankings,” Etafia told Sportswire.

“They have been doing very well. On top of that, they are hosting the tournament, so they have the 12th man behind them. They also have quality players in the squad. The current African Footballer of the Year, Achraf Hakimi, is playing for them.

“But Nigeria also have two former African Footballers of the Year in [Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman]. So far, Morocco have been well organised in how they play.”

Morocco, who are chasing their first AFCON title since 1976, have been spearheaded by Real Madrid attacker Brahim Díaz, the tournament’s top scorer with five goals — one more than Osimhen and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah.

“Díaz is doing very well — five goals in the tournament,” added Etafia, who is currently a goalkeeping coach at TS Galaxy.

“But against a Nigeria team like this, they will be tested. Nigeria will definitely test them, and it will be about how Morocco react and handle Nigeria’s attacking threat.

“There are plenty of goals in Nigeria’s frontline — Osimhen, Lookman and Akor Adams — and Alex Iwobi is also playing very well.

“Overall, the team is doing well, and Nigeria really want to win this tournament. Morocco are a team they have to get past.

“To win AFCON, you need to beat the best. I think Nigeria will definitely do well against Morocco.”

In the round-of-16 match against Mozambique, Osimhen appeared to clash with teammate Lookman, drawing heavy criticism in Nigeria and sparking talk of possible divisions within the squad.

However, the team quickly put the incident behind them, booking their semi-final place by crushing Algeria in the quarter-finals.

Asked about the incident, Etafia downplayed its significance.

“This is part of the game,” said Etafia, who enjoyed a successful spell at Moroka Swallows, where he won both the Nedbank Cup in 2009/10 and the MTN8 in the 2012/13 seasons.

“These things happen in football. But after the Mozambique game, you could see that against Algeria everyone had moved past the situation and came together for the country.

“The most important thing is to win for the country. Everyone wants to give their best, and that’s just football — these things happen.

“But I hope Nigeria can win it.”

The other semi-final will be between Senegal against record winners Egypt, also on Wednesday.