Nigeria just tore up the bracket. The Super Eagles beat Algeria 2–0 in Marrakech tonight, powering into the AFCON 2025 semi-finals on the back of Victor Osimhen’s ruthless lead play. Two unbeaten giants walked in. Only one walked out. It was Nigeria, and it was emphatic.
Osimhen flips the switch, Nigeria take control
This quarter-final began like a cage fight. Tight. Nervy. Algeria pressed high and tried to squeeze the middle. Nigeria did not panic. They kept their shape, waited for space, and then struck right after halftime.
In the 46th minute, Bruno Onyemaechi bent in a teasing cross from the left. Osimhen rose between center backs and crushed a header inside the far post. It was power and precision in one motion, the kind of finish that breaks plans and belief. [IMAGE_1]
The hit changed everything. Algeria had to open up. Nigeria smelled blood. Ten minutes later, Osimhen turned creator. He held the ball, drew a defender, and slipped a calm pass into Akor Adams. One touch to set, one to finish, 2–0 in the 56th minute. The blueprints of both teams were now clear on the grass. Nigeria’s intensity with the ball, and control without it, beat Algeria’s famed discipline.
Final score: Nigeria 2, Algeria 0. Venue: Marrakech. Scorers: Osimhen 46, Adams 56. Next: Nigeria vs Morocco in the semi-final.
Balance, bite, and a mature edge
This was not just about goals. It was about Nigeria’s balance. The back line read every long ball and second ball. Calvin Bassey was strong in the duel and tidy on recovery runs. In front of them, Frank Onyeka set the tone with clean tackles and smart positioning. He closed lanes, then moved the ball quickly. Alex Iwobi kept the rhythm, switching play and easing pressure when Algeria tried to swarm.
Onyemaechi’s timing down the left gave Nigeria an outlet. His early cross for the opener was no accident. It was a pattern. Stretch the field, isolate the fullback, deliver fast. On the other side, the wingers worked both ways. They chased back, then broke forward with sharp runs that forced Algeria to retreat.
Algeria arrived with a proud defensive record, only one goal allowed in four matches. They left chasing shadows in the second half. Nigeria chose their moments, then punished them. That is how big games are won at this level.
Key moments
- 46’ Osimhen heads in Onyemaechi’s cross, 1–0.
- 56’ Osimhen feeds Adams for 2–0.
- Bassey and the back line shut down late Algerian counters.
- Onyeka and Iwobi control tempo, kill the game off.
A rivalry reshaped, a message sent
Nigeria and Algeria know each other well, and the scars run deep. Algeria edged Nigeria in the 2019 AFCON semifinal. Nigeria bossed the 1980 final. Algeria took the crown in 1990. Every meeting writes a new footnote, and this one felt like a swing in tone.
Nigeria were the top scorers in the tournament coming in. Algeria carried the aura of a defense that could not be cracked. Tonight, Osimhen and company proved they can win with craft, not just force. They turned the volume up, then down, and made the game move at their speed. That is culture and experience, learned over years, showing up on the biggest stage. [IMAGE_2]
Nigeria have five straight wins at this AFCON. The form is real, the squad looks connected, and the bench options deliver.
Morocco await, a chess match in the cauldron
Now comes the showdown with the hosts. Morocco beat Cameroon 2–0 to book their spot, and Brahim Díaz is on a tear, scoring in five straight matches. The semi-final in front of a home crowd will be a test of nerve and detail.
Nigeria must manage the emotional surge in the stadium. They will need the same balance that beat Algeria, a mix of front-foot pressure and calm possession. Set pieces can swing a match like this. So can transition defense, where Bassey’s covering speed and Onyeka’s reading of danger will be vital. Osimhen’s movement will ask constant questions, and his link with Adams now looks sharp and unselfish.
The pre-match noise around Osimhen and Ademola Lookman earlier in the tournament set a fire under this team. Tonight, the focus was all football. It showed in every duel and every sprint. That is the standard they will need again.
Contain Díaz between the lines, protect second balls around the box, and keep the first pass after recovery clean. Those three details can tilt the semi-final.
Conclusion
Nigeria did not just advance. They imposed themselves on a heavyweight and did it with a complete performance. Osimhen led with a goal and an assist. The spine held firm. The wide play carried threat. A Morocco semi-final now looms, and the Super Eagles fly into it with conviction, clarity, and a statement win behind them.
