One of Nigeria’s most famous football voices has thrown down a psychological gauntlet ahead of Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations semifinal in Rabat and he has done so with unmistakable force, Soccernet.ng reports.
Segun Odegbami, a hero of Nigeria’s 1980 AFCON triumph, says Morocco are already afraid of the Super Eagles after their commanding 2–0 win over Algeria.
The legendary forward has declared that the Atlas Lions ‘must now be pissing in their pants' at the thought of facing a Nigerian side finally hitting full stride.
Odegbami's comments follow what is widely regarded as Nigeria’s most complete performance of the 2025 tournament.
Against an Algeria side that had won all four of their previous matches, the Super Eagles delivered a mature, controlled and ruthless display. Victor Osimhen broke the deadlock early in the second half before turning provider for Akor Adams to seal the contest.
Nigeria had already navigated past Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Mozambique, but the Algeria victory changed the tone of their campaign; from quiet progress to open warning.
And Odegbami believes Morocco, hosts and unbeaten themselves, have heard it loud and clear.
Odegbami, top scorer at the 1980 AFCON, said, as per ScoreNigeria; “The immediate effect of the superbly controlled performance against Algeria is that the Moroccans must now be pissing in their pants in anxiety and dread of the Eagles on fire, a team now finding their rhythm, creating and scoring goals freely, and improving steadily from match to match!
“Wednesday is on everybody’s mind now. I am already playing the match in my mind. The Atlas Lions would be a tougher mountain to climb only because they would have the 12th ‘player’ on their side, a vociferous, 60,000-strong ‘army’ of supporters in the terraces.
“But then, these Eagles are primed and ready. They will do the ‘impossible’ and soar successfully over the Atlas Mountains!”
Morocco arrive unbeaten in five matches, including a quarterfinal victory over Cameroon, but Nigeria’s confidence is rooted not only in form, it is also rooted in history.
The two nations have met once before in Rabat in a competitive fixture. In 1983, Nigeria held Morocco to two goalless draws across two legs, then won the penalty shootout in the Moroccan capital to qualify for the AFCON finals in Cote d’Ivoire, where they eventually finished runners-up.
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Nigeria vs Morocco: Glory and records ay stake
Beyond the psychological battle, Wednesday’s semifinal also carries the weight of Nigerian football history.
Two goals against Morocco would take Victor Osimhen level with Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer, on 37 international goals. The Galatasaray striker already has 35 goals in just 51 matches.
Yekini, who passed away in 2012, remains one of the most revered figures in Nigerian football. Osimhen, who first announced himself to the world at the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile, now stands on the brink of joining him at the summit.
He will not be alone. Alex Iwobi, Akor Adams and Ademola Lookman are expected to provide support, with Iwobi himself set to earn his 96th cap, edging closer to the century-mark achieved by Joseph Yobo and Vincent Enyeama.
Ahmed Musa remains Nigeria’s most capped player with 111 appearances.
