AFCON 2025: Osimhen To Captain Super Eagles In Crucial Semi-final Against Hosts Morocco

Star striker Victor Osimhen is set to captain the Super Eagles in their pivotal Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 semi-final encounter against tournament hosts Morocco this Wednesday.

This comes as regular captain, Wilfred Ndidi, has been ruled out of the crucial fixture due to suspension.

Ndidi, the influential defensive midfielder and a vital component of Nigeria’s tactical setup, accumulated two yellow cards in consecutive knockout matches – first against Mozambique in the Round of 16, and then during their impressive 2-0 quarter-final triumph over Algeria. His absence will undoubtedly leave a considerable void in the Super Eagles’ midfield.

Osimhen, who previously led Nigeria to a commanding 3-1 victory in their final group stage match against Uganda, will proudly don the armband for his 52nd international appearance.

In Ndidi’s stead, Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika is expected to step into the starting XI, with Coach Eric Chelle opting to largely maintain his established lineup. The formidable attacking trio of Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Akor Adams will retain their positions upfront, aiming to capitalise on their prolific form.

Raphael Onyedika will join Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka in the midfield engine room, while the defensive quartet of Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Bruno Onyemaechi, will hold their ground in the backline.

The Super Eagles arrive at this semi-final as the tournament’s leading scorers, having netted an impressive 14 goals. Osimhen himself has contributed four goals, with Lookman and Adams adding three and two, respectively, to Nigeria’s formidable tally.

Meanwhile, Morocco will be looking to leverage their significant home advantage, with a fervent crowd of nearly 70,000 expected to create a raucous atmosphere at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Wednesday night. However, Atlas Lions coach Walid Regragui is acutely aware of Nigeria’s potent threat. He cautioned, “We will need to be strong mentally but when you get to the AFCON semi-finals you need to raise your concentration levels, run more to stop Nigeria taking a breather or be able to play with the same impact.”

Regragui’s statement highlights the need for intense focus and sustained effort to counter Nigeria’s attacking prowess.

Regragui, who famously guided Morocco to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, is under immense pressure to deliver the coveted AFCON trophy on home soil, making this clash an even more enthralling prospect.