Nigeria’s Super Eagles will hand the captain’s armband to Victor Osimhen for Wednesday’s AFCON 2025 semi-final clash against hosts Morocco, following Wilfred Ndidi’s suspension.
The high-stakes encounter is set for the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m., as both sides battle for a place in the final.
Ndidi is unavailable after receiving two yellow cards during Nigeria’s Round of 16 win over Mozambique and the quarter-final victory against Tunisia, forcing a change in leadership for the Eagles.
Osimhen, who serves as the team’s vice-captain, has previously led the side during the final group-stage match against Uganda and is no stranger to on-field leadership duties.
Nigeria booked their semi-final ticket with a commanding 2-0 win over Algeria, a match that saw Osimhen play a decisive role by scoring once and setting up another goal.
South African striker Zakhele Lepasa has tipped Nigeria as favourites for the tie, insisting that the remaining teams would struggle to cope with the attacking threat posed by Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
Lepasa noted that Nigeria are under pressure to reassert themselves on the continental stage after missing out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
He described the Super Eagles as the most dangerous side left in the tournament, pointing to their 14 goals and depth in attack as clear indicators of their strength.
Nigeria’s strong performances in Morocco have also helped silence earlier criticism, with the team emerging as the competition’s most prolific attacking outfit.
While acknowledging Morocco’s home advantage, Lepasa questioned whether the Atlas Lions have faced a truly stern test so far in the tournament.
He observed that Morocco’s attacking output has largely depended on Brahim Díaz, who has scored five of their nine goals, unlike Nigeria’s more evenly spread goal contributions.
Lepasa added that Nigeria’s balanced attacking approach gives them a slight edge, warning that containing Osimhen and Lookman could prove a difficult task for the hosts.