‘We need to pay close attention to him’ - Super Eagles defender proposes way to stop Moroccan star Brahim Diaz

The Moroccan star poses a significant threat ahead of the two nations' Africa Cup of Nations semifinal clash on Wednesday night, having broken three records already.

Diaz has been in sensational form for the host nation, establishing himself as a primary danger man with his remarkable goal-scoring record. 

The Real Madrid star currently leads the tournament's scoring charts with five goals, having scored in every match he has played.

Speaking to the media, Awaziem acknowledged the Moroccan forward's quality, emphasising the need for the Super Eagles to remain vigilant against him.

"We know Brahim Diaz is a dangerous player. We need to pay close attention to him," the Nantes defender stated.

"We can't let him play his style of play because we know how dangerous he can be," he added.

Despite the challenge, Awaziem remains confident in his team's defensive capabilities, noting that the Super Eagles have successfully neutralised other top-tier opponents throughout the tournament.

"We have already played against great players and we stopped them," he said. "I think the players all know what to do."

"Everyone is focused. We will just do our thing, and I know the boys are fully ready and focused on the game," Awaziem remarked.

While confirming that the team has been practising penalties, he made it clear that Nigeria's objective is to secure a victory in regulation time.

"We hope we can get the win at the end of the day. We have been practicing penalties, but we are not going to discuss that here in the media," he concluded.

A victory for the Super Eagles would book their spot in the AFCON final, where they would face the winner of the other semifinal between Senegal and Egypt.