Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem has identified Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz as Morocco’s most dangerous player ahead of Wednesday night’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semifinal between Nigeria and the host nation.
Awaziem, who plays for French club Nantes, said the Nigerian team is well aware of Diaz’s threat, stressing that stopping the in-form attacker will be crucial to securing a place in the final.
Morocco will line up against Nigeria with Diaz in top form, having scored in every match he has played at the tournament. The attacking midfielder currently leads the AFCON goal chart with five goals, making him one of the standout performers of the competition.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the highly anticipated clash, Awaziem described Diaz as a player the Super Eagles must handle with extra caution.
“We know Brahim Diaz is a dangerous player. We need to watch him carefully,” he said.
“We’ll try not to let him play the way he likes because we know how dangerous he can be.”
Despite the warning, the Nigerian defender expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ ability to rise to the occasion, noting that the team has already neutralised several top players earlier in the tournament.
“We have already faced some really big players and we managed to stop them before. I think the players all know what they need to do,” Awaziem added.
He also emphasized that the squad is mentally prepared and fully focused, with each player clear about their responsibilities on the pitch.
The winner of the Nigeria–Morocco semifinal will advance to the AFCON final, where they will face either Senegal or Egypt, who contest the other semifinal encounter.
