Nigeria vs Morocco Prediction: A sixth consecutive strike for the 2025 Afcon’s standout star

As many predicted, host nation Morocco have sailed into the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and the only team standing between them and Sunday's final is Nigeria.

Below are my Nigeria vs Morocco predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of Wednesday's final-four showdown at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat (20:00 GMT, E4).

Team News

Wilfred Ndidi is suspended for Nigeria after picking up his second yellow of the tournament in last Saturday's 2-0 quarter-final victory over Algeria. The Besiktas midfielder could be replaced in Eric Chelle's starting XI by Club Brugge's Raphael Onyedika, who bagged a brace in the Super Eagles' 3-1 group-stage win against Uganda.

Football Odds

Unlike his Super Eagles counterpart, Morocco head coach Walid Regragui can name the same starting XI that saw off Cameroon 2-0 in the quarter-finals last Friday.

Romain Saiss (muscle) and Azzedine Ounahi (calf) remain unavailable for action, however.

Nigeria vs Morocco Odds

Nigeria, whose last regulation-time victory over Morocco was at the 2000 Afcon, are 13/5 underdogs to win on Wednesday, implying a 27.8% probability of success, while the host nation are 23/20, or a 46.5% chance, to triumph in 90 minutes.

The draw, which would send the tie to extra time, is offered at 21/10, with the Super Eagles and Atlas Lions priced at 5/4 and 4/7, respectively, in the To Win Tie market.

Betfred's Price Boosts include Both Teams To Score, 3+ Goals & 10+ Corners at 6/1 (was 5/1).

Anytime Goalscorer - Brahim Diaz (MAR) @ 21/10

Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz has been the standout star of the 2025 Afcon so far, scoring in all five of Morocco's games to lead the Golden Boots charts ahead of Egypt's Mohamed Salah and Nigeria's Victor Osimhen (both four goals). He's the first player in history to score in five consecutive Afcon matches.

The 26-year-old has already plotted a way past the defences of Comoros, Mali, Zambia, Tanzania and Cameroon, with the Super Eagles next up on his hit list.

Admittedly, Nigeria will be the strongest team, on paper, that he has faced so far, given that they have conceded just three goals at the tournament and have kept back-to-back clean sheets in the knockout phase.

However, considering Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda all breached Nigeria's defence in the group stage, Diaz will be confident that he can find the net in a sixth consecutive game on Wednesday, and at 21/10, he provides good value in the Anytime Goalscorer market.

Bet Builder - Ademola Lookman (NGA) & Achraf Hakimi (MAR) 1+ Shots on Target Each @ 11/4

Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman isn't far behind Diaz in the running for Player of the Tournament so far, having scored three goals and registered four assists across his four appearances.

The 28-year-old struck in both of his group-stage games against Tanzania and Tunisia before opening the scoring in his country's 4-0 thrashing of Mozambique in the quarter-finals.

Lookman failed to keep up his record of scoring in every match against Algeria, but he did force a save from Luca Zidane to maintain his record of registering at least one shot on target per game (five in total).

Morocco right-back and captain Achraf Hakimi only made his return from injury in his side's final group game, a 3-0 victory over Zambia on December 29, but has wasted no time in establishing himself as one of the tournament's stars, registering an assist in the Atlas Lions' 1-0 win over Tanzania in the last 16.

The 27-year-old, who has won numerous trophies with club side Paris Saint-Germain over the last 12 months, including the 2024/25 Uefa Champions League, has hit the target with three of his four shots at the 2025 Afcon, and looks a good bet to record at least one against Nigeria.

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