Morocco's head coach, Walid Regragui, has laid out a bold and specific defensive blueprint aimed at silencing Nigeria's prolific attacking duo of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. The high-stakes semifinal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is set for today, January 14, in Rabat, pitting the defensively robust Atlas Lions against the Super Eagles' potent offense.
Regragui's Key Man: Adam Masina Tasked with Neutralizing Super Eagles' Stars
According to reports, Regragui's masterplan hinges on experienced defender Adam Masina. The Torino player has been personally instructed by the 50-year-old tactician to ensure Osimhen and Lookman do not add to their impressive goal contributions in this tournament. Regragui has reportedly been preparing Masina for this critical assignment since the semifinal fixture was confirmed.
The coach's confidence in Masina stems from the defender's prior experience facing Osimhen during the striker's time at Napoli, where he became Serie A top scorer. Masina is also familiar with the style of Atalanta's Lookman. After starting on the bench in the group stages, Masina's performances against Tanzania in the Round of 16 and Cameroon in the quarterfinals have earned him Regragui's trust for this pivotal role.
Contrasting Paths: Morocco's Steel vs Nigeria's Firepower
The tactical battle is set against a backdrop of contrasting tournament statistics. Morocco has been a defensive fortress, conceding only one goal throughout the competition—a feat achieved in the group stage against Mali. They have scored seven times. In stark contrast, Nigeria's Super Eagles have been free-scoring, netting 14 goals while letting in four.
Individually, the Nigerian duo pose a monumental threat. Victor Osimhen has four goals and two assists, while Ademola Lookman has contributed three goals and four assists, combining for a significant portion of Nigeria's offensive output. Regragui has explicitly named these two, along with Alex Iwobi, as the players who scare his Moroccan side, despite acknowledging that the absence of Nigerian captain Wilfred Ndidi could work in Morocco's favor.
Team News and External Verdicts
Ahead of the clash, Morocco has been dealt a blow with midfielder Azzedine Ounahi ruled out due to a calf injury. However, there is positive news in defense as centre-back Romain Saiss is back in contention for a starting spot.
Adding to the pre-match narrative, legendary Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho has tipped Morocco for victory. Mourinho described the Atlas Lions as the best team in Africa, praising their organization and discipline, which he believes will see them through against Nigeria.
Both teams enter the match with momentum, having secured 2-0 victories in their respective quarterfinals—Morocco over Cameroon and Nigeria over Algeria. The stage is now set for a monumental tactical duel where Morocco's defensive discipline will be tested against Nigeria's explosive attacking talent.
