CAN 2025: No Maghreb derby, Morocco to face Nigeria for a place in the final

The lineup for the last four is now complete. After Morocco’s clear victory over Cameroon on Friday night (2-0), Nigeria responded with the same authority this Saturday. Driven by a dazzling Lookman-Osimhen duo, the Nigerians left no chance to a suffocated Algerian team, unable to hit the target before the 80th minute of play.

Despite a first half where the Algerian defense held firm, the lock was broken as soon as the teams returned from the locker room. Victor Osimhen, with a header (47th), then Akor Adams, after a perfect pass from the Galatasaray striker (56th), sealed the fate of the match. Luca Zidane, powerless, could only witness the damage faced with Eric Chelle’s offensive armada.

This elimination deprives the competition of the much-anticipated Morocco-Algeria clash, but it sets up an equally electric matchup: a top-of-the-table clash between the host country and the most impressive team of the tournament so far.

The appointment is set for next Wednesday. The Atlas Lions, led by a historic Brahim Diaz - the first player to score in his first five CAN matches - will have to pull out all the stops against the cold realism of the Nigerians.

The challenge will be twofold for Walid Regragui to manage Brahim Diaz’s physical condition, who left the field with a thigh bandage against Cameroon, but also to counter the offensive power of the Super Eagles who, like Morocco, seem to have found their cruising speed in this competition.

After breaking the quarter-final curse that had lasted since 2004, Morocco is now just one step away from a home final. But to achieve this, they will have to tame a Nigeria that has "left nothing" to Algeria and arrives in the capital full of confidence.