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Nigeria must produce a performance of greater intensity and maturity if they are to eliminate hosts Morocco from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, according to former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo, Footynaija.com reports.
The two sides meet on Wednesday night in Rabat in a semi-final that pitches Africa’s most in-form team against its highest-ranked and most confident hosts.
Morocco, backed by nearly 70,000 supporters, are unbeaten at home and still powered by a core of players who reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2022.
The Super Eagles, however, arrive in strong shape. They have won all five matches at the tournament and scored 14 goals, more than any other team. Their quarter-final win over Algeria was their most complete display so far.
But Ighalo believes that will not be enough.
“The players must be mentally ready for this match. They will face great pressure against the Moroccan national team.” He said.
“As you know, the Moroccan team is young, and they possess speed and agility in handling the ball.
“If Nigeria wants to win this match, the players must exert more effort than they did against Algeria and silence that stadium. I believe they have the ability to achieve that.”
The match will be the sixth AFCON meeting between the two nations and the first since 2004, when Morocco won 1-0. All five previous meetings at the tournament have produced a winner, with Morocco holding a slight edge.
Kick-off is 9:00 PM (GMT+1) at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
