Nigeria advanced to their 16th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semifinal after a commanding 2–0 victory over Algeria on Saturday, setting up a last-four showdown with tournament hosts Morocco.
Strikers Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams scored second-half goals as the Super Eagles delivered an assured performance in the quarter-final at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, dominating proceedings from start to finish and denying Algeria a single clear scoring opportunity.
Osimhen opened the scoring two minutes after the restart, steering home a long cross from Bruno Onyemaechi on the left. Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane misjudged the flight of the ball in a failed attempt to intercept, allowing the effort to slip past him.
Nigeria doubled their advantage 10 minutes later when Osimhen turned provider, selflessly setting up Adams, who rounded Zidane and calmly slotted into an empty net.
The victory underscored Nigeria’s resurgence, coming just two months after they narrowly missed qualification for the World Cup. From the opening exchanges, the Super Eagles appeared sharper, more aggressive and physically stronger, creating several chances in the first half while Algeria struggled to contain the pressure.
“The victory was deserved. The match was fantastic, and I am very happy with the win,” Nigeria coach Eric Chelle said after the game.
Nigeria will now face Morocco, who defeated Cameroon 2–0 on Friday, in the semifinals at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where they will have to overcome a fervent home crowd if they are to progress toward a fourth continental title.
