STARS SPEAK AS SUPER EAGLES BRACE FOR MOROCCO TEST

By: Gyang Dakwo

Former and present football stars have shared their views ahead of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations 2025 semi-final clash against Morocco, and the mood is one of belief mixed with caution.

The Super Eagles will face the tournament hosts on Wednesday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where close to 70,000 fans are expected to cheer a Moroccan side ranked number one in Africa and unbeaten at home for years. It is a big test, but many believe Nigeria has the quality to rise to the occasion.

Former Green Eagles captain (as the National team was then called), Segun Odegbami, said Nigeria’s 2 0 quarter final win over Algeria brought back powerful memories of the country’s golden era. The 1980 AFCON winner said the performance reminded him of the famous victory over the same opponents more than four decades ago.

“It felt like March 22, 1980, all over again. History was echoing loudly in my head,” Odegbami said.

He recalled how Nigeria swept aside Algeria 3 0 in 1980, then seen as Africa’s strongest team, through intensity, discipline and fearless attacking football, qualities he believes were visible again in the current team.

Current Super Eagles defender, Bright Osayi Samuel, also expects a tough contest but remains confident Nigeria will come out on top.

Speaking after the win against Algeria, the Birmingham City right back said the players are ready for the challenge Morocco will pose.

“Morocco will be a different team, you know,” Osayi-Samuel said.

“They have the fans with them, so it will be difficult, but we believe in ourselves. I think the way we are playing, you know, they [Algeria] didn’t have a shot on target against us.

“We just keep believing in ourselves and keep believing what the manager wants us to do, and I think we will beat Morocco too.”

Outside Nigeria, praise has also come from South Africa striker Zakhele Lepasa, who has tipped the Super Eagles as the standout team of the tournament so far. He said the remaining teams do not have enough firepower to stop Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

Lepasa noted that Nigeria came into the competition under pressure after failing to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, a setback that many South African fans enjoyed due to the rivalry between both countries.

However, he believes that disappointment has only strengthened the team’s resolve.

“Nigeria are under pressure because they didn’t qualify for the World Cup, which most of us were happy about because they are our arch-enemies,” Lepasa said on SABC News.

“They want to prove a point that they are still the best even if they didn’t qualify.

“At the moment, they are actually the best team in the Afcon. They’ve scored fourteen goals and have players like Osimhen and Lookman taking centre stage.”

However, former Super Eagles and Manchester United striker, Odion Ighalo, has warned that Nigeria must improve if they want to end Morocco’s dream of lifting the trophy on home soil.

Speaking on SuperSport, the 2019 AFCON top scorer said the challenge will be much tougher.

“The players must be mentally ready for this match. They will face great pressure against the Moroccan national team.” Ighalo 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.”

As Wednesday draws closer, confidence is building, but so is respect for the opponent. Nigeria knows the task ahead is huge, yet many believe the Super Eagles have what it takes to soar once again.