1. Morocco, after 22 years, will play in the semi-finals
Flashback to Tunisia 2004, when Morocco finished as runner-up in the Africa Cup of Nations. Led by head coach Badou Zaki, the Moroccan squad, which included current head coach Walid Ragragui, who was 28 years old and was playing for French side Ajaccio, pulverised Mali 4-0 in the semi-finals to book the All-North African final. The 2- 1 defeat against host nation Tunisia remains the only final that involved two North African sides.
The Atlas Lions have often flattered to deceive in AFCON, reaching two round 16 appearances and quarter-finals in the last four AFCONs since 2004. Bafana Bafana eliminated Morocco in the round of 16 stage in the Ivory Coast 2023. The team was in high spirits after reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but their dream was shattered against South Africa.
Morocco must work against their bad record in the competition since it played in the finals of the 2004 edition in nearby Tunisia.
2. Five former African Footballer of the Year winners are in contention
Interestingly, the competition commenced with the winners of the Africa Footballer of the Year awards since 2015. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Achraf Hakimi all historically played in the group stages. Only Aubameyang failed to qualify from the group stages. Now, Riyad Mahrez was the only player to exit from either the round of 16 or the quarter-finals. With the semi-finals set to kick off on Wednesday, the competition has all the players who have won the African Footballer of the Year awards since 2017. No AFCON semi-finals have ever had five former winners of the African Footballer of the Year award competing.
3. Liverpool’s legendary duo to clash again
Stade Ibn Batouta in Tanger will be buzzing when Mohamed Salah’s Egypt clash with Sadio Mane’s Senegal. The two fantastic forwards made Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool an incredible side with their pace, directness, aggression and finishing, helping to end the club’s over three decades wait for the EPL trophy. The two played against each other in the finals of the AFCON in Cameroon 2021, where Mane’s Senegal triumphed 4-2 on penalties after the energy-sapping 0-0 draw in 120 minutes. The two met once again in the final play-off of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where Mane had another laugh over Salah. Egypt won the first leg 1-0 in Cairo, with Senegal winning 1-0 in the second leg in Dakar. Senegal went ahead and won 3-1 on penalties. The semi-finals clash is set to bring memories with the two star players ready to face each other. Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool will surely have their eyes firmly fixed on this one.
4. Super Eagles’ superb attack meets Morocco’s rock-solid defence?
Eric Chelle’s attack has been the best in the tournament after scoring a record-breaking 14 goals with Osimhen, Lookman and Akor Adams, the men banging in the goals for Nigeria. The Super Eagles have looked so scintillating in attack, and Morocco’s back four of Noussair Mazraoui, Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd and Adam Masina must be at their best to stop them. The telepathic understanding Nigeria’s attack has demonstrated is scary. The fluidity and the dynamism make Nigeria a real threat to Morocco. The Atlas Lions, on the other hand, have conceded just one goal in the five games played. Lassina Sinayoko’s second-half penalty in the 1-1 draw is the only blip so far for the Moroccan defence. Morocco have the best defence in the competition, with Nigeria boasting of the best attack. Who will come on top in this meeting of the giants? The best attack v the best defence.
5. Will Hossam Hassan keep faith in Emam Ashour right behind Salah and Marmoush?
The 27-year-old Al Ahly midfielder had an unforgettable night in Agadir, where he provided two great assists to Marmoush and Salah in the hard-fought 3-2 win over the defending champions Ivory Coast. The midfielder showed why he had been highly rated on the continent since he signed for the Cairo giants from Midtjylland in 2023. His energy and pressing make him a huge threat to the Ivorians. Credit must be given to Hossam Hassan for being tactically genius. The former Egyptian superstar knows he has two of the best forwards in the world of football at his disposal, so all that he did against the Ivory Coast was to look for men who could provide the needed steel and stamina to protect the defence and link the attack at the same time. Hence, subsequently went for four central midfielders in the midfield instead of his usual three, who could cover enough distance with Zamalek’s Abdelraguid sitting in front of the defence, Fathy occupying the left-hand side and Attia operating from the right-hand side. Ashour served as the playmaker, and it paid off. Will the head coach maintain the same midfield and use Ashour as the playmaker?
