Nigeria vs Morocco: 5 Players That Could Decide this Game for the Super Eagles or Atlas Lions

by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga

image Nigeria vs Morocco: 5 Players That Could Decide this Game for the Super Eagles or Atlas Lions
We’re just hours away from the most exciting game of the 2025 AFCON tournament, featuring a tense semifinal clash between last edition’s runners-up and the new hosts. Let’s look at five players who could be the difference between back-to-back finals for the Super Eagles or the Atlas Lions first since 2004.

Nigeria’s Key Men in the Morocco Clash

Victor Osimhen

Although the 2023 African Player of the Year award winner started the tournament slowly, Osimhen is back to his best with four goals and two assists. That record puts him in second place for total goal contributions so far in the 2025 AFCON. The Galatasaray golden boot winner was instrumental in Nigeria’s 2-0 quarter-final win over Algeria, having scored the opening goal and provided the assist for the second.

With two goals against Mozambique in the RO16 game prior, Osimhen now has the most goal contributions in the knockout stage, making him a priority in Morocco’s defensive plans.

Ademola Lookman

Arguably, the best player of the tournament so far has been Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, who has recorded 7 goal contributions (the most), scoring three goals and providing four assists in three games. Only Algeria has been able to keep its name out of the scoreboard in this tournament.

However, he still managed to create two big chances in that game. While he traditionally plies his trade as a winger and striker, Eric Chelle has Lookman behind strikers Osimhen and Akor Adams. And that formation has been highly successful, with Ademola recording the most assists (4), most big chances created (5), and the highest number of key passes per game (3.8).

Akor Adams

The Sevilla Man, Akor Adams, has rewarded Eric Chelle’s decision to favour a formation that starts him over Fulham’s Samuel Chukwueze. Adams was kept quiet all through the group stages, but now has four G/A (two goals and two assists) in the last two knockout games.

Morocco has conceded only one goal (the fewest) and kept four clean sheets (the most), boasting the tournament's best defence. But a front trio of Osimhen, Lookman, and Adams, who share 17 G/A contributions among themselves, might just be enough to overwhelm the Atlas Lions’ backline. Looking for the best bet or insights into the outcome of this game? See our expert’s Nigeria vs Morocco prediction!

Morocco’s Star Players Against Nigeria

Brahim Diaz

With PSG’s Achraf Hakimi missing the first few games of the tournament due to injury, all the weight fell onto Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz. The 26-year-old responded brilliantly with five goals (the most), scoring one in every single game of the tournament, and he’ll be Nigeria’s main problem in this semi-final clash.

If Morocco go on to lift their first AFCON title since 1976, there’s no doubt that Diaz will be the player of the tournament. Bruno Onyemaechi, who provided an assist in the last game for Nigeria, will be tested on his defensive abilities at the left-back position, especially as Diaz operates on the same wing as Hakimi.

Achraf Hakimi

Alongside Diaz, stopping the reigning African Player of the Year, Achraf Hakimi, could be what decides this game for Nigeria. He dropped an assist against Tanzania in his first full game since returning from injury and even had a goal denied by the crossbar.

Morocco captain Hakimi offers lightning pace, incredible finishing for a defender, and dribbling ability that only Brahim Diaz can rival in this game versus Nigeria. He may not have the goals or assists like the others on this list, but in terms of his ability to decide games, Hakimi is just as lethal as these forwards.