Nigeria’s Super Eagles delivered a commanding performance to dismantle Algeria 2-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash in Marrakesh, securing a semi-final berth against tournament hosts Morocco in what promises to be an even sterner test of their continental credentials.
The three-time African champions asserted their dominance at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on Sunday evening, weathering an intimidating atmosphere created by an overwhelmingly pro-Algerian crowd of 32,452 before capitalising on their first-half superiority with two clinical second-half strikes.
Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s talismanic forward and 2023 African Player of the Year, broke the deadlock just two minutes into the second period with a precise header before turning provider three minutes before the hour mark, unselfishly setting up Sevilla striker Akor Adams to seal the comprehensive victory.
The result extends Nigeria’s impressive goal-scoring run at the tournament, bringing their total to 14 goals across five matches—the highest tally among all competing nations. More significantly, it banishes lingering doubts about the team’s mental fortitude following their failure to qualify for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, a disappointment that has cast a shadow over Nigerian football in recent months.
Under the floodlights of the stadium nestled against the dramatic backdrop of the Atlas Mountains, Eric Chelle’s side controlled proceedings from the opening whistle, refusing to be cowed by an atmosphere that resembled an Algerian home fixture. The Desert Foxes’ substantial travelling support, buoyed by their team’s resurgence under Swiss tactician Vladimir Petkovic, had descended on Marrakesh with considerable optimism following an impressive group-stage campaign and a hard-fought victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 16.
Yet despite fielding a formidable attacking trident of former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez, rising talent Ibrahim Maza, and Red Bull Leipzig’s Mohamed Amoura, Algeria failed to register a single attempt on goal in the opening 45 minutes. The lopsided statistics told the story of complete Nigerian dominance, even if the scoreline at half-time suggested otherwise.
The Super Eagles should have broken through before the interval. In the 29th minute, Ademola Lookman’s dangerous free-kick delivery caught Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane—son of French legend Zinedine Zidane—completely out of position. Ajax defender Calvin Bassey connected with the ball and directed it goalward, only for Wolfsburg’s Ramy Bensebaini to produce a desperate goal-line clearance that kept the scores level.
Eight minutes before the break, Nigeria were presented with an even clearer opportunity when Adams found himself bearing down on goal with only Zidane to beat, but the forward blazed his effort high over the crossbar in what appeared a costly miss at the time.
Whatever tactical adjustments Chelle made during the interval proved immediately effective. Within two minutes of the restart, Nigeria’s persistence paid dividends. Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi identified space down the left flank and found Bruno Onyemaechi with a defence-splitting pass. The wing-back’s deep cross to the far post was met by Osimhen, who directed a low header beyond Zidane’s reach to finally reward Nigeria’s territorial dominance.
The goal was Osimhen’s fourth in his last four matches at the tournament, a remarkable turnaround for a striker who had endured a seven-match goalless drought at AFCON level before finding the net against Tunisia in the group phase. The Galatasaray forward, distinctive in the protective mask he has worn following a facial injury, has rediscovered his scoring touch at the most crucial juncture of the competition.
Nigeria’s second goal arrived in the 57th minute and showcased both Osimhen’s renewed confidence and his growing understanding with Adams. Receiving the ball in behind Algeria’s defensive line, Osimhen had a clear sight of goal but demonstrated remarkable composure and vision, squaring the ball across the face of goal for Adams to round Zidane and finish into an empty net. It was the Sevilla man’s second goal in consecutive matches, cementing his growing importance to Chelle’s attacking plans.
Algeria, shell-shocked by the double blow, never mounted a credible response. Adams came agonisingly close to extending the margin when he met another Osimhen delivery with a header that struck the post, but by then the outcome was beyond doubt. The Desert Foxes’ attacking triumvirate, so potent in earlier rounds, was completely nullified by a well-organised Nigerian defensive structure that gave them neither time nor space to operate.
The victory carries additional significance given the historical rivalry between these North and West African powers. Algeria’s most recent AFCON triumph came in Egypt in 2019, a campaign that included a semi-final victory over Nigeria en route to lifting the trophy. That defeat in Cairo remains a painful memory for Nigerian football, making Sunday’s comprehensive win a measure of redemption for the Super Eagles.
The result also marks Algeria’s best tournament performance since that 2019 triumph, though Petkovic’s side will rue their inability to replicate the form that had generated such optimism during the group stages. For a nation with two AFCON titles to their name—won in 1990 and 2019—this quarter-final exit represents another near-miss in their quest to establish themselves among Africa’s elite nations on a consistent basis.
Nigeria now face an even more formidable challenge on Wednesday evening when they travel to Rabat to face Morocco, a fixture that promises to be one of the tournament’s defining encounters. The Atlas Lions, playing on home soil with the passionate backing of their supporters, have impressed throughout the competition and will present a markedly different proposition from Algeria.
The atmosphere in Rabat is expected to be far more hostile than what the Super Eagles encountered in Marrakesh. Nigeria will need to draw upon all their experience and mental resilience to cope with the pressure of facing a host nation with realistic title ambitions. The precedent is not encouraging—host nations at AFCON enjoy significant advantages, both psychological and practical—but Nigeria’s attacking prowess and defensive solidity suggest they possess the qualities necessary to challenge Morocco’s aspirations.
For Nigeria, this tournament represents an opportunity to restore national pride following the devastating failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The Super Eagles, three-time AFCON champions with titles won in 1980, 1994, and 2013, have experienced a turbulent period in recent years, with administrative challenges, coaching instability, and inconsistent results undermining their status as one of Africa’s traditional powerhouses.
