Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen has warned that Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 semi-final showdown with hosts Morocco will be far from straightforward, even as he underscored his confidence in the team’s capabilities and thanked fans for their support.
The comments came after Nigeria’s convincing 2-0 victory over Algeria in the quarter-finals on Saturday, a result that booked the Super Eagles a last-four date against the tournament hosts on Wednesday in Rabat.
Speaking in a video posted on social media after Nigeria’s win, Osimhen acknowledged the challenge ahead.
“Hopefully, one game at a time. It is not going to be easy for us, but I believe in this squad, and I believe in the players,” Osimhen said, emphasising both the difficulty of the upcoming match and his faith in his teammates.
The Napoli forward, who has been instrumental for Nigeria throughout the tournament, has already scored multiple goals for the Super Eagles and looks set to lead the team again in the crucial semi-final.
Osimhen didn’t just look ahead to the semi-final, he also took time to acknowledge supporters for rallying behind the team.
“To the Super Eagles fans, thank you so much for your support worldwide. This victory was not easy, and I’m happy the team got the win against Algeria. Thank you for your support, and we’ll continue to build on this momentum, and hopefully, we’ll get to the final and win it,” he added in the same message.
His remarks echoed sentiments from other post-match comments, in which he highlighted Nigeria’s preparation and determination in the tournament. According to other reports, Osimhen said, “We prepared well for this game and I’m so happy about the team’s performance…we gave our everything, and we deserved to win,” while also respecting Morocco’s quality as hosts.
Morocco, who ousted Cameroon 2-0 in their quarter-final, have been one of the standout sides of AFCON 2025 and are playing in front of a partisan home crowd as they pursue a first title in decades.
The semi-final clash between the Super Eagles and Morocco is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated matches of this year’s tournament, with Nigeria chasing a fourth AFCON crown and Morocco eager to deliver glory on home soil.
Osimhen’s words underline both the respect Nigeria holds for their hosts and the determination within the Super Eagles dressing room to keep their title bid alive, a message that resonates with fans anticipating a fiercely competitive encounter at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium later this week.
