Nigeria’s football leadership has delivered a united and defiant message ahead of the AFCON 2025 semi-final clash against hosts Morocco, insisting that the Super Eagles will not be intimidated by crowd pressure, refereeing controversy, or off-field politics.
Both Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, and Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen, have played down fears surrounding the hostile atmosphere in Rabat.
They stated that Nigeria’s focus remains firmly on performance, mentality, and execution on the pitch.
“Football Is Played on the Pitch, Not in Politics” – NFF President
Speaking ahead of the high-stakes encounter at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Gusau dismissed concerns about officiating influence, crowd intimidation, and alleged favoritism towards the host nation.
He emphasized that once the game begins, external narratives become irrelevant.
“Football is played on the field of play. It is 11 versus 11. All the politics people are talking about happens before the match.”
“Once the game starts, it comes down to the players and the centre referee. If you expand it, it’s about 25 people on the pitch who will determine the result,” Gusau said.
The NFF president insisted that the Super Eagles are mentally strong and fully prepared for the occasion.
“Our boys understand this, they are ready, and we have no fear. Forget about politics. The players are focused and prepared to do the job.”
Hostile Atmosphere in Rabat
The semi-final is expected to be played in a highly charged environment, with reports indicating that the majority of the 53,000-capacity stadium will be filled by Moroccan supporters.
The overwhelming home presence has been widely interpreted as an attempt to intimidate not only the Super Eagles but also match officials.
Pre-match conversations have also been dominated by concerns over refereeing decisions, particularly following allegations that Morocco benefitted from controversial calls earlier in the tournament.
One incident frequently cited is the denial of a penalty many believed Tanzania deserved during their Round of 16 encounter.
Despite these narratives, Gusau maintains that Nigeria are unfazed.
“These Are the Games Nigeria Loves” – Eguavoen
Nigeria’s Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen, echoed Gusau’s confidence, describing the Morocco clash as the type of high-pressure fixture that brings out the best in Nigerian teams.
Drawing from his experience as both a former player and coach, Eguavoen said big games ignite hunger within the Super Eagles.
“This is the type of game Nigeria likes to play. Even when I was playing, these are the big games where you see the hunger from Nigerian teams,” he said.
While acknowledging Morocco’s quality and motivation as hosts, Eguavoen predicted a closely fought contest.
“Nothing is taken away from the Moroccans because they have that same hunger. They are gingered up, let me use that phrase.”
“It’s going to be a very tough game, and it will be determined by a very slim win.”
Eguavoen has served as Nigeria’s Technical Director since 2020 and brings deep experience to the role.
As a former Super Eagles international, he enjoyed a distinguished career, winning the Africa Cup of Nations and playing a key role in Nigeria’s qualification for their first-ever FIFA World Cup.
He also led the Super Eagles at the 2021 AFCON, where Nigeria impressed by winning all their group matches before suffering a Round of 16 defeat to Tunisia.
