Impressive Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 to set up AFCON semifinal with Morocco

Victor Osimhen scores 1 and sets up different to nonstop Nigeria into the past 4 of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria powered to a deserved 2-0 victory implicit Algeria successful their Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal with second-half strikes from Victor Osimhen and ‍Akor Adams to acceptable up a semifinal with hosts Morocco.

Osimhen steered location a agelong transverse from the near by Bruno Onyemaechi ⁠two minutes into the 2nd fractional connected Saturday arsenic Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane made a bizarre leap to effort ​and halt the effort, but ended up getting his angles incorrect and conceding an ‍easy goal.

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Adams accrued Nigeria’s pb 10 minutes aboriginal arsenic Osimhen unselfishly fed him the ball, and helium took it astir Zidane earlier placing it into an bare net.

It was an awesome show by Nigeria, who 2 months agone missed retired ‍on World Cup ⁠qualification, arsenic they overwhelmed their opponents from the commencement astatine the Grand Stade de Marrakesh, looking much determined, quicker astir the tract and stronger successful the challenges, and denying their opponents a azygous scoring chance.

Algeria were already hanging connected grimly successful the archetypal half, with Nigeria having bully chances to beryllium up astatine the break.

Algeria centre backmost Ramy Bensebaini cleared disconnected the enactment successful the 29th infinitesimal from Calvin Bassey aft the extent of Ademola Lookman’s escaped footwear ​was misjudged by Zidane and the Nigeria fullback was capable to steer an ‌effort goalward from a choky angle.

Bensebaini hooked it clear, though tv replays looked to amusement the full circumference of the shot had crossed the line. A VAR cheque successful the lack of extremity enactment technology, however, ‌did not grant a goal.

In the 37th minute, a mediocre clearance from Zidane to full-back Aissa Mandi was intercepted by Alex Iwobi, who rapidly ‌fed the shot to Adams, but the Sevilla striker‘s left-footed effort ⁠missed the people with lone the goalkeeper to beat.

Adams besides headed against the upright successful the 82nd infinitesimal arsenic Osimhen’s endeavor and persistence again acceptable him up with a wide chance.

Algeria had been forced to play extra-time earlier winning their last-16 clash ‌against the Democratic Republic of the Congo connected Tuesday and the exertion could person been the crushed galore of their cardinal players turned successful listless performances. In contrast, Nigeria had a comfy 4-0 triumph implicit Mozambique ‍on Monday.

Nigeria, who person reached the past 4 17 times successful the past 20 tournaments they person qualified for, volition instrumentality connected Morocco successful Rabat successful the semifinals connected Wednesday.

The Super Eagles, who had a acold from perfect mentation with reports of bonuses not being paid, volition look big Morocco successful the 2nd semifinal successful Rabat connected Wednesday.

Defending champions Ivory Coast play seven-time champions Egypt successful Agadir aboriginal connected Saturday for a spot against Senegal successful the archetypal semifinal.