End of the adventure for Algeria. Opposed to Nigeria this Saturday in the quarter-finals of the CAN 2025, the Fennecs missed their meeting, they who returned to this stage of the competition after seven years and two editions of absence. Timid in the duels, technically clumsy and lacking inspiration, Vladimir Petkovic’s men took on water against the Super Eagles who continue to confirm their status as the tournament’s scarecrow.
In the wake of an irresistible Victor Osimhen, to be credited with his fourth goal and his second assist since the start of the CAN, the Nigerians left nothing to their opponent to make an appointment with the Moroccan host in the semi-finals, putting an end to the dreams of a Maghreb derby between Algeria and Morocco.
Algeria delayed the deadline
Unleashed, the Super Eagles started the game as they had finished the previous one in the round of 16 against Mozambique: foot on the floor. Eric Chelle’s men asphyxiated the Fennecs thanks to stifling pressing, from which neither Osimhen nor Lookman, the two stars of the team, were relieved.
Little used since the start of the competition, Luca Zidane, supported by his father from the stands, was vigilant to capture the powerful strike from the Atalanta Bergamo striker (24th). When he was in a bad position, the Algerian goalkeeper was several times assisted by his partners, like the saving return of Rayan Aït-Nouri at the feet of Osimhen (26th) or the rescue on the line of Ramy Bensebaïni following a recovery by Calvin Bassey (29th).
Totally dominated, the Greens somehow returned to the locker room with a goalless draw, a lesser problem given the control of the Super Eagles, still very close to opening the scoring through Akor Adams just before the break (37th).
Osimhen responded to criticism
Rather than panicking in the face of this lack of realism, the CAN 2024 finalists continued to press and were finally rewarded upon returning from the locker room thanks to the elusive Osimhen. Announced close to leaving the Nigerian group after his falling out with Lookman against Mozambique, the former center forward of Lille and Naples punished the enemy’s passivity by flying higher than everyone to smash a helmet hit into Zidane’s net (0-1, 47th).
As if to put out the fire that he himself had started, the Lagos native proved his sense of collectiveness by offering the second goal to Akor Adams at the conclusion of a magnificent Nigerian collective movement (0-2, 57th).
What’s next? A controlled end to the match despite the offensive changes attempted by Petkovic with the entries of Anis Hadj Moussa, Adil Boulbina and Baghdad Bounedjah. The score could even have increased if the post had not come to Zidane’s aid to prevent Akor Adams’ header from shaking the net (82nd).
Superior Nigeria will now attempt to crush Morocco’s hopes in a tantalizing semi-final, scheduled for Wednesday January 14 (9 p.m.). For Algeria, now try to digest the disappointment of elimination and turn towards the 2026 World Cup.
)
