Key events
Morocco’s players head out to warm up in Rabat, high-fiving an Atlas lion (a cuddly mascot, not a real one) on their way out of the tunnel. The country’s hosting abilities have been under scrutiny throughout this Afcon with a view to co-hosting the World Cup with Spain and Portugal in 2030. Jonathan Wilson has been there:
The high-speed Al-Boraq rail service from Rabat to Tangier is exceptional and should be extended through Casablanca to Marrakech by 2030. The conventional trains are very good, though they would come under strain at a World Cup, and don’t yet reach as far south as Agadir. With internal flights limited, that is an obvious potential problem. Hotels have easily been able to cope with the influx of visitors for the Cup of Nations without absurd price increases, and Morocco has a developed tourist infrastructure. That may yet not be enough for the far greater stresses of a World Cup, but the foundations are there.
“As a Fulham supporter I’m torn,” writes Richard Hirst. “Should I want Nigeria to lose so that we get Bassey, Iwobi and Chukwueze back quickly? Or should I want Nigeria to win the whole thing, so that when we do get them back they are on a high and tear our opponents to shreds? Answers to Marco Silva please.”
Yep, just the three Fulham players in the Nigeria squad tonight. Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi start, with Samuel Chukwueze waiting in the wings.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi misses out for Nigeria with a combination of suspension and injury. He picked up a second yellow card of the tournament, earning him a one-match ban, and a hamstring strain in the quarter-final. Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika takes his place in the XI tonight in their only change.
Morocco are unchanged from their quarter-final.
Team news
Starting lineups from the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah:
Nigeria (4-3-1-2): Nwabili; Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Onyeka, Onyedika, Iwobi; Lookman; Osimhen, Adams.
Subs: Obasogie, Uzoho, Awaziem, Ogbu, Sanusi, Akinsanmiro, Dele-Bashiru, Usman, Nnadi, Ejuke, Fago, Simon, Onuachu, Chukwueze.
Morocco (4-3-3): Bounou; Hakimi, Aguerd, Masina, Mazraoui; El Khannouss, El Aynaoui, Saibari; Brahim, El Kaabi, Ezzalzouli.
Subs: Al Harrar, Munir, Boudlal, Salah-Eddine, El Yamiq, Chibi, Belammari, Ben Seghir, Akhomach, Targhalline, Amrabat, Talbi, Igamane, Rahimi, En-Nesyri.
Senegal await the winners of this one in final after edging out Egypt in the first semi-final. The full-time whistle went a few minutes ago, with Sadio Mané’s late-ish winner was the difference.
Yara El-Shaboury is sweeping up the reaction on her blog:
Preamble
It’s been 22 years since Morocco last appeared in the Africa Cup of Nations final and 50 years since they won the thing. Tonight the 2026 hosts have the chance to stay right to the very end of their own party when they take on the runners-up of two years ago, Nigeria, in Rabat in the second semi-final.
Walid Regragui’s side topped their group and have since knocked out Tanzania and Cameroon. Real Madrid’s Brahim Díaz, whose club coach has changed while he’s been away, has scored in every game at the tournament so far, including the first of Morocco’s two against Cameroon in last Friday’s quarter-final. They remain favourites for the title.
Standing in their way of Sunday’s final are Nigeria who, unlike Morocco, have won every game at this tournament. Victor Osimhen is their talisman and he gave them the lead against Algeria in their 2-0 quarter-final victory to get this far. The Super Eagles took the lead in the 2023 Afcon final (played in 2024) but were beaten by the hosts on that occasion, Côte d’Ivoire.
I’ll be providing updates for as long as this one takes, should we need extra time and penalties, so feel free to get in touch via email with your thoughts on the game. Kick-off is 8pm (GMT). Team news is coming up.
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