Walid Regragui Puts Super Eagles Under the Microscope Ahead of AFCON 2025 Semi-Final

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui is leaving nothing to chance ahead of the Atlas Lions’ Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final clash against Nigeria, deploying advanced video analysis technology to study the Super Eagles in detail.

According to Moroccan newspaper AlMountakhab, Regragui and his technical staff have intensified preparations by placing Nigeria’s performances under close scrutiny as the decisive continental showdown approaches.

Nigeria booked their place in the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Algeria, with Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams finding the net. Tournament hosts Morocco secured their own spot at the same stage with an identical 2-0 win over Cameroon.

At the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, Regragui and his assistants—Rachid Benmahmoud and Bouhazama—are operating on high alert, meticulously breaking down Nigeria’s tactical approach using cutting-edge video technology.

The Moroccan technical team’s analytical unit is said to be working around the clock, providing detailed reports on the Super Eagles’ playing patterns, strengths, and potential vulnerabilities to ensure comprehensive preparation.

Regragui is determined to gain an in-depth understanding of Nigeria’s squad ahead of the highly anticipated encounter, which will take place on Wednesday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Both sides have been among the standout teams of the tournament. Morocco have impressed at both ends of the pitch, scoring nine goals while keeping four clean sheets, while Nigeria are the competition’s highest-scoring team with 14 goals and have recorded back-to-back clean sheets in the knockout stages.

Real Madrid forward Brahim Díaz currently leads the AFCON scoring charts with five goals, one more than Nigeria’s talismanic striker Victor Osimhen, adding further intrigue to what promises to be a blockbuster semi-final.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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