Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has dismissed claims that his team holds any external advantages as they prepare to face Nigeria in Wednesday’s AFCON 2025 semi-final, insisting that the only edge is the support of home fans.
At a lively pre-match press briefing on Monday, Regragui addressed growing controversy over refereeing decisions, which has followed Morocco’s 2–0 quarter-final win over Cameroon. The victory drew criticism after several clear penalty appeals for the Indomitable Lions were reportedly ignored.
Rejecting accusations of favoritism, the Atlas Lions coach emphasized that Morocco’s tournament-favourite status has made them an easy target for scrutiny.
“As the team to beat, people will look for any reason to say we have an advantage,” Regragui said. “The only advantage Morocco has is playing in front of 65,000 spectators. Everything else happens on the pitch. We let our performance speak.”
The former Wydad Casablanca manager also highlighted statistics to back Morocco’s semi-final credentials.
“Numbers show we are creating more chances than our opponents, and no goals were wrongly disallowed. Some just look for excuses,” he added.
Morocco arrives at the semi-final on the back of a 25-match unbeaten streak, a run that began after their shock exit to South Africa in the previous AFCON. The team is confident that home support and their current form could finally deliver the continental triumph they have long sought.
But standing in their way are Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles, boasting the tournament’s most lethal attack. Nigeria aims to silence the Rabat crowd and move closer to their first AFCON crown since 2013.
With 25 games unbeaten and a stadium packed with over 65,000 fans, the big question remains: Can Nigeria end Morocco’s run and secure a place in the AFCON final? Fans are invited to share their predictions.
