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Nigeria advances to set a date with host Morocco in the final four.
Nigeria has progressed towards African Cup of Nations semi-final after a 2-0 victory against Algeria in Marrakech.
Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams scored the goals as the Super Eagles found their wings in the second half to set up a date with the hosts. Morocco in the last four.
The two teams faced each other with a perfect record in the competition, but it was the three-time champions who emerged victorious while Eric Chelle’s team largely dominated the proceedings at the Stade de Marrakech.
They failed to break through the wicked Algerian defense after 45 minutes, but scored twice in succession after the break to deservedly overcome their North African opponents.
How the action took place
Nigeria, who hope to forget the disappointment of not having managed to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup final phase, had the upper hand in the first exchanges.
In the 23rd minute, Ademola Lookman had a first glimpse of the goal by cutting to his right before unleashing a low shot that Luca Zidane – son of the great Zinedine – did well to keep.
Lookman then slipped Osimhen into the box, but a combination of Zidane and Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri quickly extinguished the danger.
Algeria struggled to find its place in the match. Shortly before the 30th minute, Zidane was caught in no man’s land with a free kick, but Ramy Bensebaini prevented the Fennec Foxes from falling behind with a last-ditch clearance on the goal line to keep out Calvin Bassey’s effort.
But the best chance of the half fell to Adams when he found himself blasting through on goal. However, the Sevilla striker could only blast his shot over the bar.
The Algerian defense, which had only been breached once in the tournament before the draw, once again demonstrated its solidity.
However, almost immediately after the restart, Nigeria finally made the breakthrough when Osimhen rose at the far post to blast past Zidane and give his side the lead.
The Super Eagles were starting to take off. Osimhen went close again from a similar position before turning provider, allowing Adams to atone for his earlier failure by adding a second when he rounded Zidane and slotted into an open net.
Algeria began to regain momentum, but failed to really test Stanley Nwabali in Nigeria’s goal.
Adams then hit the post with a header as Chelle’s side moved closer to a first AFCON title since 2013.
