Algeria 0 Nigeria 2: Osimhen's leap, Iwobi's pass and what happened after full-time?
SOURCE:The Athletic|BY:Carl Anka and Nnamdi Onyeagwara
Could Nigeria be the new AFCON favourites after making light work of Algeria?
Nigeria produced a statement win against Algeria to power their way to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-finals, where they will face hosts Morocco on Wednesday.
They had plenty of chances to go ahead in the first half. Rayan Ait-Nouri made a strong challenge to dispossess Victor Osimhen in the area, while Ramy Bensebaini was forced into a goal-line clearance in the 29th minute. With just goalkeeper Luca Zidane to beat in the 37th minute, Akor Adams blasted over the bar — and it looked as if Nigeria might be made to rue those missed opportunities.
Not so. Osimhen produced a trademark leap in the 47th minute to head past Zidane following a cross from Bruno Onyemaechi, before the striker laid off for Adams to round the Algeria ‘keeper and slot home the second 10 minutes later, following a fine pass from Alex Iwobi. Nigeria could have scored more, with Adams missing a late chance, but it was still a dominant performance from the Super Eagles.
It sets up an intriguing semi-final between one of the tournament’s favourites and the host nation. But for Riyad Mahrez, in what he has said is his final AFCON, it was heartbreak.
Here, Carl Anka, Nnamdi Onyeagwara and Jay Harris analyse the key talking points.
Are Nigeria the new favourites for this tournament?
There is no perfect science to winning AFCON, but previous champions have spoken of how it is better to grow into the tournament, rather than going in as favourites.
Hosts Morocco were the 2025 frontrunners before a ball was kicked, and many writers believed they were destined to face Senegal in the January 18 final.
But Nigeria now stand in their way; a free-scoring team with multiple ways to hurt their opponents. Morocco made it to the semi-finals as expected, but the Super Eagles will provide their strongest test to date.
Any tactical plan Morocco’s Walid Regragui creates for that match-up will likely include how to attack the space where Wilfred Ndidi once stood. The defensive midfielder will be unavailable for the January 14 match-up due to suspension, which risks unbalancing Nigeria’s excellent midfield diamond.
Raphael Onyedika is Nigeria’s most obvious replacement for Ndidi (he was a second-half substitute for the former Leicester City man), but coach Eric Chelle may adjust things further.
Nigeria bring goals to this AFCON. Losing finalists to the Ivory Coast at the last tournament, can they get things done this time around? Only time will tell.
Carl Anka
What happened after the final whistle?
A rash tackle from Anis Hadj-Moussa on Moses Simon towards the end of the game cranked up the tension, and then the full-time whistle sparked a brawl between both sides.
Nigeria’s backroom staff ran onto the pitch to celebrate with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, but within seconds they were dashing across to the centre-circle to separate both sets of players. Hadj-Moussa seemed to be at the centre of attention after approaching the referee, before he stormed off towards the tunnel. It was unclear if he had been shown a second yellow card for dissent.
Bright Osayi-Samuel, who enjoyed an excellent game, was surrounded by Algeria players and then darted to the dressing room, keen to keep out of any more trouble. Nwabali and his counterpart Zidane then had to be separated as they started arguing.
It all kicked off after the final whistle between Algeria and Nigeria’s squads
It looked like Hadj Moussa, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Stanley Nwabali were at the centre of it but arguments were breaking out everywhere @TheAthleticFCpic.twitter.com/KMzdJQZgtB
A volunteer who ran onto the pitch actually slipped and wiped out Onyemaechi to add to the drama. Algeria’s fans let off a bright red flare. Everything descended into chaos and fights broke out across the pitch.
Algeria’s coaching staff and players took things a step further. They followed the officials down the tunnel and hurled insults at them.
After Algeria eventually walked off the pitch, Nigeria’s squad were able to celebrate with their supporters. Few neutrals will feel sorry for Algeria after this reaction.
Jay Harris
Should Nigeria have taken the lead in first half?
Algeria vs Nigeria being a rematch of a tense semi-final from AFCON 2019 made things spicy enough. That it pitted the highest-scoring team at this tournament so far (Nigeria with 12 goals in four matches) against the best defence (Algeria had only conceded one goal before the quarter-finals) made things extra juicy.
The opening 45 minutes made for an entertaining arm wrestle, with Nigeria probing for space down the right-hand side, looking to supply Osimhen with the sort of crosses he thrives on. They came within inches of scoring twice in the first half.
In the 25th minute, Iwobi hit an excellent line-breaking pass for Ademola Lookman down the right. The Atalanta forward teed up Osimhen, but a late intervention from Ait-Nouri denied the striker time to get a shot away. The slide tackle from the Manchester City full-back was the perfect combination of forceful and focused, stopping Osimhen but avoiding a penalty.
Three minutes later, Nigeria whipped in a delicious free kick from the right-hand side towards Calvin Bassey, who was sprinting towards the back post. The Fulham centre-back did not produce the cleanest connection with his volleyed attempt on goal, but he looked to have got enough power on the shot to get it over the goal-line.
Enter Bensebaini. The Borussia Dortmund defender stretched every sinew possible to make a last-ditch effort at clearing the ball off the line.
There is no goal-line technology at AFCON 2025. There is no special sensor within the wonderful Puma ITRI ball to send a signal to the referee’s watch. Replays showed more than half of the ball had crossed the line before Bensebaini’s intervention, but seemingly not all of it.
Nigeria finished the first half with seven shots, two of which were on target. They had 19 touches in the opposition box compared to Algeria’s two, with Adams’ skied effort before half-time leading to further frustration for the Super Eagles.
It was good, but not good enough against the continent’s most stubborn defence. Not that it mattered given what followed in the second half…
Carl Anka
Osimhen rises highest once again
Osimhen the character is an enigma. Osimhen the goalscorer is not.
Nigeria’s star striker started the week with question marks over his emotional outbursts after being at fault for a needless on-pitch confrontation with team-mate Lookman. In typical Osimhen fashion, the 27-year-old ended the week by scoring a crucial header to put his side ahead in their quarter-final, before providing the assist for their second.
The Galatasaray striker has one of the best leaps in world football. A cross from the marauding left-back Onyemaechi was sent to the back post for Osimhen to attack. From there, Osimhen’s technique was excellent: his muscles strained to head the ball down, confusing goalkeeper Zidane with the bounce off the turf.
It was a leap Cristiano Ronaldo would be proud of…
It is also what we have become used to seeing from Osimhen as he approaches a decade in European football. He terrorised opposition full-backs at Napoli with that kind of jump (just look at this gravity-defying header against Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023).
After a week in which he had to face criticism for that confrontation with Lookman, he responded by then setting up strike partner Adams for an easy finish for Nigeria’s second.
At this edition of AFCON, Lookman has been in fine form, Iwobi unplayable, Bassey rock solid, Adams lively and Ndidi composed. But Nigeria’s main man remains Osimhen — and he is now just two goals away from Rashidi Yekini’s all-time Nigeria record of 37.
Nnamdi Onyeagwara and Carl Anka
Was that the pass of the tournament from Iwobi?
Nigeria’s deep talent pool and wealth of attacking riches have been a help and a hindrance in previous AFCONs. The Super Eagles have always been blessed with goalscoring options, but multiple coaches have had issues getting all of the star names on the field and working in proper balance.
Coach Chelle appears to have found a solution for this issue, fielding a 4-4-2 diamond that sees Lookman as a roaming No 10 behind the hardworking Adams and the devastating Osimhen. Yet it was a player behind this brilliant front three that devastated Algeria.
Iwobi’s performances this AFCON have seen him nicknamed ‘The Quarterback’ for his ability to play “the pass before the pass” whenever his country clicks into gear. The 29-year-old Fulham midfielder is equally adept at playing on the wing or as a box-to-box player, and he easily shifts between roles within the midfield diamond.
Nigeria’s second goal was born from another Iwobi “pre-assist”. His through-ball to Osimhen carried enough pace to break Algeria’s lines, but it was not so heavy as to make the chance difficult for the striker. Osimhen could have taken the chance himself, but unselfishly squared it to Adams, who rounded the goalkeeper to score.
It was a team goal par excellence created by Iwobi, who covered nearly every single blade of grass in the quarter-final.
He only has two assists for the tournament so far, but Nigeria would not be the tournament’s highest scorers without him.
Carl Anka
What is Mahrez’s AFCON legacy?
“This will be my last AFCON,” former Manchester City winger Mahrez said on Friday. “I want to win the Africa Cup of Nations again with this generation — I really want it.”
With 111 appearances for Algeria and 21 at AFCON (across five editions), Mahrez bows out as undoubtedly one of the best players in the tournament’s history.
He appeared at his first AFCON in 2015 (where Algeria were knocked out in the quarter-finals), was eliminated in the group stage in 2017, but his most memorable tournament and moment came in 2019.
Mahrez featured in and captained Algeria for all of their seven games (scoring three goals), scoring the 95th-minute winning free kick against Nigeria in the semi-final.
At the age of 34 and playing in Saudi Arabia with Al Ahli, he was not at the peak of his powers at this edition in Morocco, but he still scored three goals in two group stage games. There was to be no repeat of his winning performance in 2019, and he was substituted on the hour mark after Nigeria’s second goal.
It was a sad way for Mahrez to leave AFCON, but he is undoubtedly one of the best players to represent Algeria in modern times. And he will still have a World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico to look forward to this summer.
