Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has disclosed that his team’s tactical focus on limiting Alex Iwobi’s influence was key to their semi-final victory over Nigeria on Wednesday.
Speaking after the encounter, which ended in a penalty shootout win for Morocco, Regragui said his side deliberately targeted Iwobi to prevent him from supplying passes to Nigeria’s main attacking threats, Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
According to the coach, stopping Iwobi, widely regarded as the Super Eagles’ chief playmaker, was central to Morocco’s game plan. He noted that once Iwobi was effectively contained, Nigeria found it difficult to progress the ball into dangerous areas.
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Nigeria struggled to create clear chances during the match, with Osimhen and Lookman largely starved of service as Morocco’s midfield pressed aggressively and remained compact. Eric Chelle’s side laboured in transition, failing to generate the attacking rhythm that had powered their earlier performances in the tournament.
Although Iwobi has not registered an assist since Nigeria’s opening game against Tanzania, the Fulham midfielder had played a crucial role in the build-up to most of Nigeria’s goals prior to the semi-final.
At the post-match press conference, Regragui declined to reveal full tactical details but confirmed the strategy. “Tactically, we can’t share all the details,” he told reporters. “The plan was to stop their playmaker Iwobi, and he was looking to pass the ball to Osimhen and Lookman.”
He added that the approach demanded high intensity and discipline from his players. “It was a bit tough because it needed a lot of energy. We needed to push harder, keep moving back to stay organised, get the ball back when passes were bad, and then move fast to start attacking,” Regragui said.
The win sends Morocco into the final, while Nigeria are left to reflect on a semi-final exit after being effectively neutralised in midfield.
