Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has vowed that Nigeria will ‘give everything' when they face hosts Morocco in Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final, as his in-form side attempt to reach a second consecutive AFCON final, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria and Morocco will trade tackles inside the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with the winner booking a place in the final of the 2025 tournament.
Few tipped Nigeria to reach this stage, yet Chelle’s men arrive as the competition’s most consistent team, having won all five of their matches so far.
Along the way, the Super Eagles have eliminated two North African heavyweights in Tunisia and Algeria.
But despite that flawless run, Nigeria will once again start as underdogs.
Morocco are unbeaten, backed by a fervent home crowd, and still boast the spine of the team that reached the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. For Eric Chelle, this represents a challenge even greater than anything his side have faced so far.
“Algeria was the biggest test,” Chelle said at his pre-match press conference as monitored by Soccernet.ng.
“Morocco is the biggest test. Every game is the biggest test for this team because the expectation is so big.
“We are ready for this game, for all of the games that we play in this tournament. We try to play every game like the last and we will give everything as we have given everything.
“I have to check my players, how they are physically because you know we play three days before. We have to rest and after I will judge how is my team and then we can talk about the game plan.”
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Nigeria vs Morocco: A tactical clash for the ages
After a bruising quarter-final against Algeria and successive journeys between Fez and Rabat, Nigeria’s technical crew are placing huge emphasis on recovery and physical freshness. The final tactical plan, Chelle insists, will depend on how well his players respond.
The Franco-Malian coach even suggested Nigeria may be willing to surrender possession to Morocco.
“Maybe we'll let them have the ball and wait.”
It is a calculated idea. Morocco have, at times, struggled to break down teams that defend in a deep, compact block. Nigeria, with their pace and power in transition, may look to strike when the spaces appear.
Despite the fatigue, Chelle remains confident in the strength and balance of his squad. The attacking trio of Victor Osimhen, Akor Adams, and Ademola Lookman continues to provide Nigeria with menace and unpredictability, while Alex Iwobi’s intelligence and composure remain central to the team’s structure.
There is also recent history at stake.
Nigeria reached the final of the 2023 AFCON, only to lose to hosts Côte d’Ivoire. This time, the three-time African champions are determined not to fall short again as they chase a first continental title since 2013.
