In a commanding display of footballing prowess, the Super Eagles of Nigeria soared into the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, overpowering Algeria with a decisive 2-0 victory in Marrakech on Saturday.
The win, orchestrated by star striker Victor Osimhen, sets up a tantalizing clash with tournament hosts Morocco and firmly establishes Nigeria as a serious contender for their first continental title since 2013.
From the first whistle at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, Nigeria asserted a dominance that would define the entire match. The Super Eagles controlled the tempo, peppering the Algerian defense and creating a series of clear-cut chances in the opening half.
Their pressure was nearly rewarded just before the half-hour mark when Calvin Bassey’s close-range volley was dramatically hooked off the line by Algeria’s Ramy Bensebaini. Akor Adams then squandered an even better opportunity, blasting over an open goal after a costly mistake by Algeria’s defense.
Despite a staggering first-half performance that yielded no goals, Nigeria’s breakthrough felt inevitable.
It arrived with ruthless efficiency just two minutes after the restart. Bruno Onyemaechi delivered a searching cross from the left flank, and Victor Osimhen rose majestically, hanging in the air to power a downward header past the bewildered Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane.
The goal punctured Algerian resistance, and ten minutes later, Nigeria delivered the killer blow. Midfield maestro Alex Iwobi threaded a superb pass to release Osimhen.
In a moment of unselfish brilliance, the masked striker squared the ball to the unmarked Akor Adams, who calmly rounded Zidane and tapped home to double the lead and effectively seal the contest.
The statistics painted a picture of utter Nigerian supremacy. The Super Eagles enjoyed 58% possession, unleashed 13 shots to Algeria’s three, and registered a commanding expected goals (xG) figure of 2.92 while denying their opponents a single shot on target all night.
In contrast, Algeria’s formidable attack, featuring Riyad Mahrez, was rendered anonymous, their frustrations boiling over into five yellow cards and a fractious end to the match that saw players surround the officials after the final whistle.
The victory propels Nigeria into their second consecutive AFCON semi-final, where they will face the daunting challenge of host nation Morocco in Rabat on Wednesday. For a Nigerian team that entered the tournament under the dual shadows of a failed World Cup qualification campaign and internal disputes over bonuses, this performance was a powerful statement of unity and intent.
With Osimhen in scintillating form and the team clicking at both ends of the pitch, the Super Eagles are now just two victories away from turning their disappointment into continental glory.