The Super Eagles are through to the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a dominant display saw Nigeria edge Algeria 2-0 in the quarter-finals on Saturday at Stade de Marrakech.
The Super Eagles set the ball rolling with a quick free-kick that was awarded to the team, only to be headed away by Semi Ajayi in the 2nd minute of the game.
In the 6th minute, Nigeria had a positive chance to break the deadlock from a corner kick, but Osimhen’s header failed to threaten the Algerian goalkeeper.
A few minutes later, Frank Onyeka’s shot from Onyemaechi’s cross was blocked by the Algerian defender. The Eagles’ high pressing game forced the Algerians to play from their own half.
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Ademola Lookman had Nigeria’s first shot on target in the 23rd minute, which was calmly saved by the Algerian goalkeeper, Luca Zidane.
In the 29th minute, the Super Eagles thought they had taken the lead after Calvin Bassey’s tap-in from a cross from Lookman was cleared off the line by Ramy Bensebaini.
Akor Adams should have given the Super Eagles the lead in the 36th minute when he was played through by Alex Iwobi, only for the Sevilla striker to hit his shot way wide from the goalpost.
The Super Eagles commenced the second half the way they started the first half, as Victor Osimhen headed into the back of the net to give Nigeria the opening goal in the 47th minute. Credit to Onyemaechi for that perfect cross that was well-connected by the Galatasaray striker for his fourth goal in the ongoing tournament.
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Osimhen almost doubled his goal tally, but his header failed to beat Zidane from the far post. A few minutes later, a beautiful split pass found Osimhen, who was selfless enough to pass to Adams, who calmly dribbled the Algerian goalkeeper to score Nigeria’s second goal in the 57th minute.
The Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was more like a spectator, as he was hardly tested by the Algerians. However, in the 80th minute, the North Africans had their first shot on goal through Mohamed El Amine Amoura, which went way wide of the goalpost.
Akor almost put the game beyond the reach of the Algerians in the 83rd minute when his shot hit the goalpost to deny the Sevilla striker his second goal of the game.
All efforts from the Algerians to score a consolation goal proved abortive as the Super Eagles sealed a semi-finals berth.
MATCH STATISTICS
Nigeria 2-0 Algeria
GOAL SCORERS: NIGERIA
Victor Osimhen
(47 min)
Akor Adams
(57 mins)
GOAL SCORER: ALGERIA
Nill
LINE-UP: NIGERIA
Stanley Nwabali
Bright Osayi-Samuel
Semi Ajayi
Calvin Bassey
Bruno Onyemaechi
Wilfred Ndidi
Frank Onyeka
Alex Iwobi
Ademola Lookman
Akor Adams
Victor Osimhen
SUBSTITUTES
Moses Simon
(Frank Ogochukwu Onyeka, 69 min)
Moses Simon
(Wilfred Ndid, 69 min)
Chidoziem Awaziem
(Akor Adams 86 mins)
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
(Ademola Lookman, 86 mins)
Ighor Ogbu
(Bright Osayi-Samuel, 95 mins)
HEAD COACH: Eric Chelle
LINE-UP: ALGERIA
Aissa Mandi
Ramiz Zerrouki
Riyad Mahrez
Hichem Boudaoui
Rayan Ait Nouri
Farès Chaïbi
Mohamed El Amine Amoura
Ramy Bensebaini
Ibrahim Maza
Luca Zidane
Rafik Belghali
SUBSTITUTES
Baghdad Bounedjah
(Ramiz Zerrouki, 60 min)
Ramiz Zerrouki
(Riyad Mahrez, 60 min)
Adil Boulbina
(Ibrahim Maza, 60 min)
HEAD COACH: Vladimir Petkovic
By James Agberebi in Fes, Morocco
2 Comments
I thought moses simon is the 2nd captain after ndidi the main captain… the osimhen third…
If so osimhen should have handed over the captain arm band to him as soon as he stepped into the pitch in the second half
Wonderful result and total display from SE. The next match is the real threat of the tournament. I hope NFF does their path to avoid our players from going to strike. Osimhen was the man of the match.