The final eight of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was an interesting line-up.
This edition has not recorded any significant upsets, meaning the best of the best made it.
The quarter-finalists were eight of the top 10 teams on the continent, as adjudged by the world football governing body, FIFA.
“It seems the quality of infrastructure (playing surface) Morocco has delivered the competition is a major differential comparable to the quality of infrastructure obtainable in Europe,” Telema Davies, the Managing Partner and Sports Industry Lead at DMPartners, tells DAILY POST.
“The players are taking advantage of the quality of the pitches to express their football and there’s been little cause for concern on injuries.”
Morocco have been brilliant at this tournament – but on and off the pitch.
Davies explains: “Morocco has recency capital in its favour in terms of the nation’s teams performances.
“From becoming the first African semi-finalists in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar to winners of the African Nations Championships in 2020, 2021 and 2025. Let’s not forget the success of its youth teams in 2023 (U-23 AFCON), 2025 (U-17 AFCON and U-20 World Cup finalists).
“Morocco has the design to dominate football and thus making their participation in the ongoing tournament the most fearsome team to face.
“This quality is further accentuated by the fact that Morocco is the current host and they have home support as an undeniable advantage.
“Therefore, whoever is going to face Morocco in the semifinal of this competition must be ready to take on the entire nation and not just spectators in the stands as the host nation has a point of global magnitude to prove,” he said.
The Atlas Lions on Friday, on Friday qualified for the semi-finals, thanks to a 2-0 victory over Cameroon.
They will now face one of Nigeria or Algeria for a place in the final.
Davies expects the Super Eagles’ clash with the Desert Foxes to be a gripping affair.
“It’s not always straightforward to be honest, but I expect a competition that will have viewers and spectators on the edge of their seats depending on which side of the aisle people support,” he said.
“It’s pretty much a rematch and while Algeria will be keen to demonstrate its tournament record isn’t a fluke, the Super Eagles will be eager to exact revenge on the Desert Foxes.”
AFCON 2025: Morocco lie in wait as Super Eagles battle Algeria for semi-final spot
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