‘Ndidi's absence will help us’ — Morocco boss delights in Super Eagles captain’s suspension

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has admitted that Nigeria captain Wilfred Ndidi’s suspension offers the Atlas Lions a boost ahead of Wednesday’s AFCON 2025 semi-final showdown in Rabat.

Despite that relief, the Moroccan boss insists his side remain fully alert to the Super Eagles’ attacking firepower as one of the most lethal sides in the competition.

Speaking at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, Regragui openly acknowledged the impact Ndidi’s absence could have on Nigeria’s midfield balance. The Besiktas man will miss the semi-final after picking up yellow cards in wins over Mozambique and Algeria.

“Ndidi's absence will help us, but when you have Osimhen, Lookman, and Iwobi, and when you see their bench, they might change their plan, although I consider that unlikely,” Regragui told reporters.

The Morocco coach was quick to underline the danger posed by Nigeria’s front line, with Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman involved in 13 of the Super Eagles’ 14 goals at AFCON 2025.

Lookman has directly contributed to seven goals, one more than Osimhen, while Alex Iwobi’s influence goes beyond statistics, orchestrating much of Nigeria’s attacking build-up from midfield.

Regragui stressed that Morocco cannot afford any lapses in intensity against Eric Chelle’s side, warning his players against repeating mistakes from earlier matches.

“We need to concentrate and win our duels, and not retreat like we did against Cameroon, because they could punish us,” he said.

“In the second half, we need to raise our level so as not to let Nigeria breathe and get back into the game or maintain their technical strength.”

With Ndidi sidelined, Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika is expected to make his second start of the tournament for Nigeria, tasked with filling the void left by the suspended captain.