By Frank Ulom
MARRAKESH (CONVERSEER) – The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Saturday comfortably saw off The Desert Foxes of Algeria 2-0 to set up a semi-final clash with host Morocco at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
It was one of the most talked-about matches in this year’s AFCON, since both teams were the only teams with 100% records in the group stages, but showed why they are called the Super Eagles after 90 minutes in Marrakesh.
The whole Super Eagles team was solid against Les Fennecs – from defence to attack – Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams and Victor Osimhen.
Earlier, Ndidi pledged to pay out of his own pocket the Nigerian players’ victory bonuses if they did not receive them, a controversy that surrounded the Super Eagles camp before the game.
“I’m pushing the team to train and to play the match against Algeria. I’ve been doing it since the second game.
I’ve now made a commitment to the staff and players that I will personally pay the bonuses if the authorities don’t do it before Saturday,” Ndidi, Captain of the Super Eagles, said.
Nigeria started very strongly, pressing Algeria high off the pitch, but it was the latter who threatened the former in the seventh minute, and Mohamed Amoura’s ambitious run was stopped when the assistant referee spotted him in an offside position.
Lookman and Osimhen were involved in a one-to-one move in the eighth minute, but the former Napoli star could not find the back of the net as he headed over the bar just outside the box.
The Super Eagles kept attacking, piling more pressure on the Desert Warriors, and in the ninth minute almost broke the deadlock. Frank Onyeka ran to collect a neatly delivered cross into the box and launched a powerful shot towards the goal, but Aissa Mandi made a match-saving intervention to save the North Africans.
Algeria’s call for a penalty in the 13th minute was dismissed after Ajayi appeared to have handled the ball inside Nigeria’s penalty box. Despite vehement opposition from Algeria, the referee answered with a firm ‘play on’ signal.
Stanley Nwabali saved Nigeria from going down in the 21st minute when Riyad Mahrez sent a long cross into the box and found Ibrahim Maza. The Chippa United goalkeeper came off his line to avert the danger by blocking the Algerian forward from scoring.
Nwabali was called to action again in the 22nd minute when he intercepted Mahrez’s free kick into a fairly crowded penalty box.
After surviving two challenging moments, the Super Eagles launched a counterattack; Lookman found himself in space, but Algeria’s goalkeeper, Luca Zidane, spread himself wide to block the Nigerian star in the 24th minute.
Lookman and Osimhen were again involved in a brilliant team move; the former spotted the latter, but Ramy Bensebaini read the move well and intercepted before Osimhen struck.
Bensebaini again made a crucial block to prevent Nigeria from scoring; the Borussia Dortmund defender made the block just when Bassey was about to strike inside the six-yard box.
Nigerians were relentless and in the 32nd minute created another goalscoring chance. Osayi-Samuel found Adams with a through pass into the box, but a timely reaction by Rayan Ait Nouri made the difference.
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Adams had a chance to break the deadlock in the 37th minute, but after he was set through by Iwobi, he fired over the bar just outside the box.
After failing to take their first-half chances, the Super Eagles scored in the 47th minute. With an assist from Onyemaechi, Osimhen headed past Zidane from close range to give his side the lead.
Lookman almost came to a one-on-one situation with Zidane in the 50th minute, but Mandi saved his side by blocking the Nigerian forward lurking inside the box.
The Super Eagles doubled their lead 10 minutes after breaking the deadlock. Osimhen spotted Adams in a good position to find the back of the net, and the Sevilla forward made no mistake as he rounded Zidane and slotted into an unguarded net.
After conceding two goals in the second half, Algeria could not find a way back as the Nigerians marched towards the last four.
Despite the negative spotlight during their Round of 16 encounter against Mozambique following the confrontation with Lookman, Osimhen delivered. With a goal and an assist, the forward played his vital role to help the Super Eagles advance.
Algeria’s chance to become continental champions suffered a blow with the defeat against Nigeria. Their wait since 2019 continues as the Super Eagles’ dream of winning their fourth continental title remains alive.
Recall that Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the only way to put that behind is to win the AFCON.
