Nigeria’s Super Eagles delivered a commanding statement of intent on Saturday night, sweeping aside former champions Algeria 2–0 to book a place in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams sealed a deserved quarter-final victory for Nigeria at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco, as the Super Eagles outclassed the 2019 winners with a dominant and disciplined display.
After a goalless first half in which Nigeria controlled proceedings without finding the breakthrough, Osimhen struck just two minutes after the restart. The former Napoli striker powered home a header in the 47th minute, rising above the Algerian defence to convert a pinpoint cross from Bruno Onyemaechi.
Nigeria doubled their advantage 10 minutes later through Akor Adams, who calmly rounded Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane before finishing clinically. The move was initiated by Osimhen, whose clever hold-up play and assist capped a flowing team move involving Alex Iwobi and underlined Nigeria’s attacking cohesion.
Although the first half ended scoreless, the Super Eagles had been firmly on top, carving out the better chances. Algeria were fortunate not to concede earlier, with defender Ramy Bensebaini producing a goal-line clearance to deny Calvin Bassey after sustained Nigerian pressure.
The statistics reflected Nigeria’s superiority. The Super Eagles recorded around 12 shots, five of them on target, while Algeria managed just two attempts, none troubling the Nigerian goalkeeper. Nigeria also dominated possession, won key midfield battles and limited the Desert Foxes to rare forays forward.
For Algeria, the defeat marked a disappointing end to their campaign, as they struggled to cope with Nigeria’s intensity, organisation and pace. For Nigeria, it was another assured performance in a tournament where they have steadily grown in confidence.
The victory sets up a mouth-watering semi-final clash against host nation Morocco on January 14, 2026. Despite the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Super Eagles have emerged as one of the standout teams of the competition, sending a clear message that they remain a force to be reckoned with on the African stage.
Get a premium automobile insurance coverage for your vehicle for as low as #15000 only and claim up to #3,000,000 in damages @Zenith Insurance To signup: WhatsApp/Call: +2349028313757
