By Joke Kujenya
STATISTICAL TRENDS IS SHAPING the build-up to tonight’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semifinal as Nigeria face Morocco at 9.00pm on Monday, January 14 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Nigeria reached the semifinals after a 2 0 quarterfinal victory over Algeria.
The Super Eagles have scored at least two goals in each of their five matches at the current finals; the first time they have achieved this at an AFCON.
This is only the second time Nigeria have scored at least twice in five matches at a single edition, having previously done so in 2000.
Alongside Egypt in 1974 and 2010, Nigeria is the second team to score at least two goals in each of their first five matches at the AFCON.
Nigeria have also scored 14 goals at the current tournament, their highest tally at a single edition.
The last team to score 14 goals at the AFCON was Cameroon in 2021.
The Super Eagles have also scored in their last 12 AFCON matches, last failing to score in the Round of 16 defeat to Tunisia in 2021.
Also, the team had scored in five matches at the current finals, having last scored in six successive games in 2013.
Nigeria have won five successive AFCON matches for the first time.
They have recorded five wins at a single edition for the second time, after 2019 but never won six matches in a row or six matches at a single Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria have won both of their knockout matches at AFCON 2025.
They last won three knockout matches in succession in 2013, which remains the only edition in which they won three knockout matches in open play.
This is Nigeria’s record extending 16th appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals.
Their first appearance at this stage came in 1978, when they lost 2 1 to Uganda.
Under the 24-team format, only Senegal in 2019, 2021, and 2025 and Nigeria in 2019, 2023, and 2025 have reached three semifinals.
Nigeria’s semifinal record stands at P15 W8 L7, with the 1976 edition played over two group stages.
Of their eight semifinal victories, four came in open play and four were decided on penalties.
Of their seven eliminations, six came in open play and one was decided on penalties.
No team has failed to progress from more Africa Cup of Nations semifinals than Nigeria.
Also, a victory would see Nigeria reach a ninth AFCON final and their first consecutive finals, drawing level with Ghana on nine final appearances.
Since 2013, only Egypt, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire have reached multiple finals alongside Nigeria.
Nigeria’s previous final appearances came in 1980, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1994, 2000, and 2013.
So, a win would also see Nigeria reach a final in North Africa for the fourth time.
This is their fifth semifinal appearance in their last six AFCON participations.
Nigeria lost at the semifinal stage in 2010 and 2019 and won at this stage in 2013 and 2023.
The Super Eagles have missed the semifinals only three times in 20 AFCON appearances, in 1982, 2008, and 2021.
Nigeria have contested eight penalty shoot outs at the AFCON, winning six, with five of those shoot outs taking place in semifinals. They are joint most winners of penalty shoot outs alongside Egypt.
Their shoot out defeats came in the 2000 final and the 2004 semifinals.
Nigeria have won four semifinals in open play, in 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2013, and lost four in open play, in 1978, 1992, 2002, and 2019.
Beam Light On Osimhen
Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen has scored four goals at the current tournament, the most by a Nigerian at a single AFCON since Odion Ighalo in 2019.
Osimhen has also been directly involved in 10 Africa Cup of Nations goals, with five goals and five assists.
He has scored three knockout goals at the current edition, becoming the fifth Nigerian to do so at a single tournament. Nigeria have never lost an AFCON match in which he has scored or assisted, recording five wins and two draws.
Nigeria did not face a single shot on target against Algeria in the quarterfinals and currently have a shot conversion rate of 21%, the highest at the tournament.
Looking At Morocco
Morocco also reached the semifinals following a 1 0 quarterfinal victory over Cameroon.
This was their fifth quarterfinal appearance and the second time they progressed from that stage.
Morocco is appearing in the AFCON semifinals for the fifth time, following previous appearances in 1980, 1986, 1988, and 2004.
This is the second time they have reached the semifinals as hosts, after 1988.
Morocco have won one of their previous three Africa Cup of Nations semifinals, in 2004, and lost successive semifinals in 1986 and 1988.
Their first semifinal appearance in 1980 ended in defeat to hosts Nigeria.
All teams that previously eliminated Morocco in an AFCON semifinal went on to win the title.
A victory would see Morocco reach a second AFCON final and their first in over 21 years.
All of Morocco’s previous semifinals have been decided in open play, with all three semifinal defeats ending 1 0.
However, Morocco have kept four clean sheets at the current finals, their most at a single edition.
Morocco have also scored five set piece goals at the current tournament, more than any other team.
Head coach Walid Regragui is leading Morocco into his second major semifinal, and a win would see the Atlas Lions reach their third senior CAF final in under a year.
