Online Reporter
THE Africa Cup of Nations has reached the semi-final stage and a tournament devoid of shocks now offers up two mouthwatering ties with hosts Morocco looking to see off the challenges of their fellow continental heavyweights.
Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria and Sadio Mane’s Senegal all remain in contention to win the trophy in Rabat next Sunday, even if home advantage still makes Morocco favourites.
World Cup semi-finalists in 2022, Morocco are Africa’s top-ranked team and approach tomorrow’s semi-final against Nigeria in the capital defending an unbeaten record since losing to South Africa at the last AFCON.
Walid Regragui’s side have conceded just one goal in five matches here and doubts about their ability to handle the enormous pressure of playing at home were blown away with their performance in beating Cameroon 2-0 in the quarterfinals.
Captain and current African player of the year Achraf Hakimi is fit again after injury, and in Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz — scorer of five goals in five games — they have probably the tournament’s outstanding player.
“He can become the best player in the world if he wants to,” remarked Regragui after the Cameroon game.
Morocco are Africa’s leading power right now and, unlike Nigeria, are gearing up for the World Cup.
But their Cup of Nations record down the years has been underwhelming. This is their first semi-final since 2004, when they lost the final to Tunisia.
Going further back, Morocco beat Nigeria en-route to lifting the trophy in 1976 – half a century on, that remains their only continental title.
Nigeria returned to Morocco with much to prove after a penalty shoot-out defeat by the Democratic Republic of Congo in a November play-off in Rabat ended their hopes of World Cup qualification.
There might be 10 African countries participating at the World Cup and it is remarkable that Nigeria — with its footballing pedigree and the largest population on the continent – will not be among them.
However, their performances over the last three weeks have shown that to be an anomaly. — AFP Sport.
