Addis Ababa, January 14, 2026 (FMC) – The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) reaches a pivotal moment today as the tournament’s semi-final matches present crucial tests for four of Africa’s leading football nations ahead of the final scheduled for 18 January 2026 in Rabat, Morocco.
In the opening semi-final fixture in Rabat, host nation Morocco will meet Nigeria. Morocco earned their place in the last four with a 2–0 win over Cameroon in the quarter-finals, maintaining defensive solidity with multiple clean sheets in the knockout rounds. Real Madrid forward Brahim Díaz, who has scored in five consecutive matches at this tournament, remains the focal point of Morocco’s attack and a key figure in their bid to reach only their second AFCON final in history.
Nigeria reached the semi-finals after a 2–0 victory over Algeria, a result that extended their strong scoring record at AFCON 2025. The Super Eagles have scored at least two goals in all five of their matches, marking their highest goal tally in a single edition of the competition. Striker Victor Osimhen has been central to Nigeria’s offensive threat, registering multiple goals and assists, and Nigeria have not lost a match at this tournament in which he has been directly involved in scoring.
Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle has indicated a balanced tactical approach, with greater emphasis on defensive organization and rapid counter‑attacks to counter Morocco’s strengths. Nigeria will be without captain Wilfred Ndidi due to suspension, but they still pose a significant threat with creative players such as Ademola Lookman and Osimhen leading the frontline.
Later today in Tangier, Egypt will face Senegal in what is expected to be a high-profile showdown between two of Africa’s footballing giants. Egypt advanced to the semi-finals by overcoming defending champions Côte d’Ivoire 3–2 in an exciting quarter-final, with goals from Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush and Rami Rabia highlighting their attacking efficiency. Salah’s strike tally in this tournament adds to his overall AFCON scoring record, reinforcing his status as one of Africa’s leading attackers.
Senegal, winners of the 2021 AFCON, reached the semi-finals after a 1–0 victory over Mali and bring consistency and tactical discipline to the penultimate stage. The meeting between Senegal and Egypt recalls their previous continental finals encounters, including the 2021 final that ended in a penalty-shootout win for Senegal. Historical head-to-head statistics underline the balanced nature of this rivalry, with both teams having registered competitive results against each other across multiple AFCON editions.
Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan has praised the high quality of competition at this year’s tournament and emphasized his team’s preparation and tactical readiness ahead of the semi-final. Hassan also highlighted the depth of talent across participating teams, reflecting the overall competitive strength seen in AFCON 2025.
Morocco and Senegal have been tipped by statistical models to have slight advantages in today’s matches, based on current form and historical trends, while Nigeria and Egypt remain strong challengers with proven tournament pedigrees.
The two winning sides today will advance to the AFCON 2025 final on 18 January 2026 in Rabat, where they will compete for Africa’s most prestigious national football title. The losing teams are scheduled to contest the third-place playoff later in the tournament.