The moment of truth has come for Morocco. After a generally controlled start to the tournament, the Atlas Lions are preparing to face their Everest this Wednesday, January 14: a semi-final of the African Cup of Nations against Nigeria, the real bogeyman of the competition.
Five days after having brilliantly triumphed over Cameroon (0-2), Walid Regragui’s men will do it again in a Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium which promises to be hot. Present at a press conference the day before the match on Tuesday, the Moroccan coach appeared confident and determined: “What matters to me is winning,” he said. “We have one of the most important matches in history to play. It was a surprise in the World Cup, here we are in our place. The objective is to make history, for a generation to see Morocco in the final. »
For this shock at the top, Regragui should renew the eleven that defeated the Indomitable Lions on January 9. “Everyone can apply in the group except Azzedine Ounahi”, victim of a torn left calf and forfeited for the rest of the CAN. “Romain Saïss, on the other hand, is coming back well, he is training. We’ll see if he can play,” said the 50-year-old technician about his captain, who suffered a hamstring injury during the opening match against the Comoros.
However, he should not start Wednesday’s meeting, as a precautionary measure but also because the central hinge composed of Nayef Aguerd and Adam Masina finally seems to have found its cruising speed.
The probable line-ups of Nigeria – Morocco
Nigeria : Nwabali – Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Onyemaechi – Onyedika, Onyeka, Iwobi – Lookman – Osimhen (cap.), A. Adams
Morocco : Bounou – Hakimi (cap.), Aguerd, Masina, Mazraoui – El Aynaoui, El Khannouss, Saibari – Brahim Diaz, El Kaabi, A.Ezzalzouli
Look at Nigeria sans Patience
On the Nigerian side, an absence is to be deplored and it is significant: due to an accumulation of yellow cards, the captain of the Super Eagles Wilfred Ndidi is suspended for the semi-final. A real blow for Éric Chelle: “I am disappointed that he cannot play… He brings so much to the team,” regretted the Nigeria coach at a press conference. “But we have other options and I have confidence in them. »
These options are Raphael Onyedika, the 34-year-old defensive midfielder playing for Club Brugge, or Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio Rome), a more forward-looking profile, who can even play as number 10. Given the already very offensive aspect of the Nigerian team, which has the best attack in the competition with 14 goals scored in five matches, it seems more likely to see Onyedika recover the sentinel position held until now by Ndidi.
Up front, the fiery trio composed of Ademola Lookman (3 goals, 4 assists), Victor Osimhen (4 goals, 2 assists) and Akor Adams (2 goals, 2 assists) should logically be renewed.
