14 hours ago
6
Who: Algeria vs Nigeria
What: CAF Africa Cup of Nations
Where: Marrakech Stadium successful Marrakesh, Morocco
When: Saturday astatine 5pm (16:00 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll person each the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 13:00 GMT successful beforehand of our substance commentary stream.
A trial of a formidable defence against a lethal onslaught volition beryllium connected show erstwhile Algeria instrumentality connected Nigeria successful the Africa Cup of Nations’ (AFCON) astir eagerly-awaited quarterfinal successful Marrakesh connected Saturday.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 items- list 1 of 3From Salah to Hakimi: Top-10 players to ticker astatine AFCON 2025
- list 2 of 3AFCON 2025: All to cognize astir Africa’s largest shot tournament
- list 3 of 3AFCON 2025: Full lucifer docket earlier Africa’s showcase shot spectacle
Algeria person produced a near-flawless antiaircraft show astatine AFCON 2025, conceding conscionable erstwhile successful 4 matches. But their resolute backline present faces a stern situation against a sharp-shooting Nigerian broadside that has scored a tournament-high 12 goals.
The deadly duo of Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen coming up against the reliable Luca Zidane promises a fascinating showdown.
But tin the Nigerian attackers enactment their on-field issues from the erstwhile lucifer down them and situation the Algerian defence?
Here’s everything you request to cognize astir Algeria vs Nigeria:
What was the feud betwixt Osimhen and Lookman?
In the 63rd infinitesimal of the lucifer against Mozambique, portion Nigeria were 3-0 up, Osimhen appeared unhappy with Lookman’s determination to instrumentality connected defenders himself alternatively than walk the shot to him during an attacking move.
Osimhen squared up to Lookman and gestured angrily successful his direction, prompting skipper Wilfried Ndidi to measurement successful and interruption the fight. His involution proved ineffective, however, arsenic Mozambique defender Reinildo yet shoved Osimhen distant amid the confrontation.
The incidental seemed to impact Osimhen’s involvement thereafter, arsenic helium became progressively disengaged from Nigeria’s play and soon signalled to the seat to beryllium substituted. Head manager Eric Chelle obliged, introducing Moses Simon successful his place.
The play continued astatine the last whistle erstwhile Osimhen headed consecutive down the tunnel, portion the remainder of the Nigerian squad remained connected the transportation successful a post-match huddle.
Talking to reporters aft the match, Lookman said: “There’s nary issue. It’s conscionable football. Always football. He is my brother.”
Coach Chelle refused to spell heavy into the issue, saying, “What happened connected the transportation volition enactment successful the group.”
Osimhen and Onyeka argued during the crippled against Mozambique [Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters]How did Algeria scope the AFCON 2025 quarterfinals?
Algeria precocious to the knockouts with 3 wins retired of 3 – against Sudan, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea.
In the circular of 16, they beat DR Congo 1-0 successful other time, acknowledgment to a spectacular onslaught from substitute Adil Boulbina.
How did Nigeria scope the quarterfinals?
Nigeria stormed into the knockouts with a 100 per cent grounds arsenic well, beating Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda successful Group C.
They began their knockout run with a 4-0 thrashing of Mozambique.
Who volition the victor look successful the semifinals?
The victor of the Algeria vs Nigeria lucifer volition look the victor of Cameroon vs Morocco.
That semifinal volition beryllium held connected January 14 successful Rabat.
Who are Algeria’s champion players?
Winger Riyad Mahrez, wide remembered arsenic a captious subordinate of Leicester City’s iconic Premier League-winning run a decennary ago, remains an evergreen figure, lasting retired arsenic Algeria’s cardinal subordinate with 3 goals successful 4 matches.
Alongside him, forwards Ibrahim Maza (two goals) and Anis Moussa (two assists) person besides been influential successful attack, portion viewers should besides ticker retired for Mohamed Amoura, who was Africa’s starring scorer successful World Cup 2026 qualification.
Algeria’s goalkeeper, Luca Zidane, lad of French large Zinedine Zidane, is besides a formidable beingness betwixt the sticks, keeping cleanable sheets successful each 3 appearances truthful far.
Zinedine Zidane and his woman Veronique Zidane ticker the AFCON circular of 16 lucifer betwixt Algeria and Democratic Republic of Congo astatine the Prince Moulay El Hassan stadium successful Rabat [Gabriel Bouys/AFP]Who are Nigeria’s champion players?
All eyes had been connected Nigeria’s prima striker and talisman, Osimhen, earlier the tournament, but it’s Lookman, who has stolen the limelight. Arguably the tournament’s champion player, Lookman has bagged 3 goals and 4 assists successful 3 appearances astatine AFCON 2025, proving arsenic influential some arsenic a playmaker and a finisher.
Playing successful the No. 10 role, Lookman has thrived arsenic the nexus betwixt midfield and attack, delivering unsafe crosses into the container and posing a changeless long-range threat.
Nigeria’s attacking firepower is further bolstered by the masked Osimhen, who has yet to deed apical cogwheel astatine the tourney but is gradually uncovering his rhythm, bringing up his 3rd extremity successful the last-16 clash.
Striker Akor Adams has emerged arsenic an unsung leader aft his 2 assists and a extremity successful the past game, portion Alex Iwobi has been pulling the strings successful the mediate of the park, and skipper Wilfried Ndidi has been arsenic influential, anchoring their midfield.
Forward Victor Osimhen is Nigeria’s joint-highest scorer astatine AFCON 2025, alongside Ademola Lookman, with 3 goals [File: AFP]Algeria and Nigeria signifier guides
Algeria: W-W-W-W-L
Nigeria: W-W-W-W-L
Head-to-head
Algeria and Nigeria person met successful 22 erstwhile encounters, including some competitory and affable matches.
Algeria person a flimsy borderline successful the head-to-head record, winning 10 times, portion Nigeria person won 9 times. Three games ended successful a draw.
Algeria person been an AFCON bogey squad for Nigeria, winning 4 and drafting 2 of 9 meetings, including a 5-1 drubbing of the Super Eagles en way to winning the 1990 tourney astatine home.
When did Algeria and Nigeria past meet?
They met successful an planetary affable successful September 2022 successful Oran, Algeria. The North Africans won 2-1 successful that fixture.
Have Algeria ever won an AFCON title?
Yes. Algeria are two-time AFCON winners, clinching the rubric successful 1990 and 2019.
Have Nigeria ever won an AFCON title?
Yes. Nigeria are three-time AFCON champions, winning successful 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Algeria squad news
Algeria’s caput coach, Vladimir Petkovic, volition beryllium sweating implicit midfielder Ismael Bennacer’s fittingness aft helium was taken disconnected injured successful the past crippled aboriginal successful the 2nd half.
Algeria’s predicted lineup
Luca Zidane; Rafik Belghali, Aissa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini, Rayan Ait Nouri; Hicham Boudaoui, Ismael Bennacer, Fares Chaibi; Riyad Mahrez, Ibrahim Maza, Mohammed Amoura
Nigeria squad news
Nigeria’s caput coach, Eric Chelle, has a afloat acceptable squad astatine his disposal.
Nigeria’s predicted lineup
Stanley Nwabali; Bright Osayu-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi; Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi; Ademola Lookman; Akor Adams, Victor Osimhen
English (US) ·