AFCON: Morocco coach Regragui reveals target from Nigeria fixture

Morocco national team coach Walid Regragui has revealed their mission to beat Nigeria when they face off in the semifinal of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco on Wednesday.

The Atlas Lions reached the last four after defeating Cameroon 2-0 at the same venue, while Nigeria saw off Algeria 2-0 at Stade de Marrakech.

This will be the sixth time Morocco and Nigeria are meeting in AFCON, the first meeting in 22 years, and the second in an AFCON semi-final.

With Morocco playing their first semi-final in AFCON after 22 years, Regragui, believes the Nigeria fixture will be one of the most important since the World Cup semi-final in Qatar in 2022.

“It has been a very long time since Morocco participated in an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final. So, we are already very happy,” Regragui told reporters ahead of the game.

‘All that matters to us is winning’

“This is Nigeria’s 17th semi-final, which shows their strength and consistency. It’s good for African football, and we hope to live up to the spectacle.”

Regragui added: “All that matters to us is winning. Tomorrow’s (Wednesday) match is one of the most important in our history since the World Cup semi-final in Qatar in 2022. At the World Cup, it was a surprise; here, we are where we belong.”

On whether he is under pressure heading into the game, he responded: “When you are the coach of the Moroccan national team, whatever you do, they will just say, you will be criticised for every result.

“If we win the match, it helps me a little, but this is Morocco and this is who we are, I fight for my country, unfortunately as a Moroccan coach you have to face this. I hope the next coach will do better than me.”

He added: “The penalty against Tanzania, people have tried to make it look like a 20kg player was tackled by a 120kg player and made it a penalty. For example, if it was England, it wouldn’t have been a penalty.”

Nigeria have lost four times against hosts: twice against Algeria in 1990 (group stage and final), as well as defeats to Ghana in the 2008 Quarter-finals and Côte d’Ivoire in the 2023 Final.

In the knockout rounds at AFCON, Nigeria have faced hosts five times, winning only once against Mali in the 2002 third-place match. They have lost three times in open play against Algeria in the 1990 final, Ghana in the 2008 quarterfinals and Côte d’Ivoire in the 2023 Final, and lost on penalties to Tunisia in 2004.