Nigeria AFCON Semi-Finals: Reaching Success Amidst Turmoil

Nigeria has convincingly qualified for the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations. After a turbulent week, the ‘Super Eagles’ were supreme against Algeria and won 2-0 in Marrakesh.

Next Wednesday, Nigeria will meet host country Morocco in the last four, which won 2-0 against Cameroon yesterday. Due to the elimination of Algeria, premier league players Ramiz Zerrouki (FC Twente) and Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord) can return to their clubs.

The other semi-final is between Senegal and record champion Egypt, which reached the last four with a 3-2 victory over defending champion Ivory Coast in Agadir tonight.

After the victory over Mozambique, the players threatened not to travel to Marrakesh for the match against Algeria if the association did not pay out the win bonuses for the group stage and eighth finals.

Captain Wilfred Ndidi urged his teammates to calm down and suggested that they pay the premiums from their own pockets if necessary. That brought some peace and later the Nigerian Minister of Finance promised that the premiums would soon be credited to the players’ accounts.

And then there was the issue between star players Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. After being skipped by his teammate during an attack in the previous match, Osimhen made a loud complaint to Lookman.

“It’s a team sport,” Osimhen snapped at his teammate. Afterwards, the Galatasaray striker is said to have even threatened to go to Turkey at the airport. After a conversation between the two, things fizzled out.

“Always together,” Lookman posted on Instagram with a photo with Osimhen on his back. The two were also on the field together against Algeria, in a strong attacking trio with Sevilla’s Akor Adams as the third man.

Nigeria left Algeria without a chance and was the boss in all areas. After a handball by Semi Ajayi, the Nigerians were fortunate that Algeria did not receive a penalty.

On the other hand, former Ajax player Calvin Bassey was close to a goal. His effort went under goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of French legend Zinedine Zidane, but the referee ruled the ball had not crossed the line (there is no goal-line technology at the African Cup of Nations).

After the break it was quickly decided. Osimhen headed beautifully into the ground between two Algerians in the 47th minute and ten minutes later Adams doubled the score on a pass from Osimhen after a quick counter.

Powerless Algeria, with Zerrouki in the starting line-up and Hadj Moussa as a substitute, only delivered the first shot towards the Nigerian goal in the 80th minute.

There was a remarkable difference in strength between World Cup participant Algeria and Nigeria, which did not qualify for the World Cup. Adams headed onto the post on behalf of Nigeria, but a third Nigerian goal was not achieved.

No country has won more African Cups than Egypt (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010), but that all happened before the era of Mohammed Salah, the current star player. Would it happen this year?

With the ‘Pharaohs’, the 33-year-old Liverpool attacker remained in the race to become champion and crown his career tonight.

The record champion started sharply against Ivory Coast and after the Ivorians lost the ball, the Egyptians struck mercilessly in the third minute. Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush placed the ball in the corner.

From a corner from Salah, Rami Rabia headed in the second Egyptian goal and five minutes before half-time, Ivory Coast reduced the margin to one. After a header from Odilon Kossounou, Ahmed Fatou put the ball into his own goal.

Captain Salah made it 3-1 seven minutes after halftime. He shot a clever cross from the outside right from Emam Ashour into the goal from close range. It was his fourth goal of the tournament.

It seemed decided, but after a scrimmage in front of the Egyptian goal, Guéla Doué scored the tying goal with his heel and created an exciting final quarter. However, Egypt held out and can focus on a duel for a final place with Senegal.