Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 to face Morocco in AFCON semifinals

By Editor

Nigeria defeated Algeria 2-0 to set up a semi-final clash with hosts Morocco, in a rivalry that stands perfectly balanced, with two wins each for the teams in their AFCON history.

The Super Eagles secured their place in the AFCON semi-finals with a superb 2–0 win over Algeria on Saturday, setting up a mouthwatering semifinal against Morocco.

The quarterfinal between Nigeria and Algeria was a tight, physically demanding contest in the first half, with both teams locked at 0–0 at the break. The Desert Foxes goalkeeper, Luka Zidane, did his reputation a lot of good in the first period, foiling efforts by Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as Nigeria exerted absolute authority inside the Grand Stade de Marrakech.

Osimhen danced to the right wing in the 7^th minute but saw his intelligent cut-back swept out for a corner kick by Aissa Mandi. Osimhen’s header from the resultant corner kick flew over the sticks.

A quarter-hour later, Lookman streamed past the defence after another great pass by Alex Iwobi, only to see his effort smothered by Zidane.

Nigeria broke forward again in the 25^th minute, but Zidane was alert and ran out to thwart the opportunity as Osimhen loomed once more. With eight minutes left in the first period, Akor Adams got to the end of another swift counter-attack but saw his effort fly over the bar with Zidane stranded.

Zidane and the Fennecs’ luck held well in the first 45 minutes, but two minutes into the second half, they were in no man’s land as Osimhen rose splendidly, suspending himself in the air, to nod into the net from a perfect pull-out by defender Bruno Onyemaechi. The great team goal started from Frank Onyeka’s pass to Adams, who found Iwobi, and who in turn found Onyemaechi.

Seven minutes later, another Onyemaechi cross and another Osimhen header. But this time, Zidane saved.

Three minutes before the hour, Nigeria established daylight between them and the North African country as Adams finished with aplomb from a great team move that started with Onyeka breaking down another Fennecs’ move and finding Iwobi, who found Osimhen. The 2023 African Player of the Year selflessly located Adams, and the Sevilla FC of Spain poacher rounded Zidane before slotting into the net for Nigeria’s second, and his own second AFCON goal.

With 10 minutes left, Adams came close to earning a brace and Nigeria’s third, with a diving header from Osimhen’s hard work and cross from the right. The ball ricocheted against the upright, saving the Fennecs’ blushes.

Morocco had already booked their semifinal spot a day earlier after defeating Cameroon 2–0 in Rabat, returning to the AFCON last four for the first time since 2004.

Morocco and Nigeria will face off on Wednesday, January 14, with both sides chasing a place in the final and a chance to make history.

Wednesday’s matchup will mark the fifth AFCON meeting between Morocco and Nigeria, with the rivalry perfectly balanced so far. Their first encounters came in 1976, when Morocco claimed two victories. Nigeria answered with a semifinal win in 1980, before Morocco edged another meeting in 2004. With two wins apiece, this semifinal will finally tip the scales and determine who advances to the AFCON 2025 final.