Former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo mapped victory over hosts Morocco in Wednesday's AFCON semi-final, urging Nigeria to shred Achraf Hakimi's rampaging right flank, force midfield chaos with physicality, and unleash Osimhen's hold-up magic to feast on stretched defenses. The ex-Shanghai boss, who netted 5 in 2019's bronze run, stressed tactical patience against Regragui's gegenpress – "Swarm Hakimi early, let Lookman and Chukwueze bomb left, Osayi-Samuel shadows Saïss aerials while Iwobi slices pockets." Drawing from Algeria's quarter-final bully job where Eagles owned 70% ball yet grinded 2-0, Ighalo warned Rabat cauldron demands grit over glamour, predicting extra-time wars if set-pieces falter like Mozambique lapses.
Ighalo lit up predictions Sunday, fancying Nigeria-Senegal final fireworks after hosts' Côte d'Ivoire demolition, but slammed Opta's 57% Morocco edge as hype ignoring Eagles' 14-goal tear – most in tournament – versus Atlas Lions' open-play clean sheet. "Morocco leaks on transitions – Aina overlaps pin El Yamiq, feed Vic headers before Tissoudali resets," he plotted, nodding Ajayi's dead-ball pleas and Osayi-Samuel's press keys as unlockers. Peseiro faces Ndidi suspension risks, Bassey tweaks post-Algeria masterclass, but Ighalo backed bench fire from Orban and Gift swaps to punish fatigue in 90-plus heat.
Naija camps pulse with Wembley revenge dreams, Ighalo's blueprint echoing Semi and Bright's fixes – attack bites, defence dogs – as green seas flood stadiums chasing first crown since 2013. Regragui dismisses "bullies," but streets bet Osimhen silences home roar. Super Eagles fly, Ighalo's words steel the spine for history.