Nigeria vs Algeria 2026 AFCON Quarterfinal: Super Eagles Soar to Last Four

Nigeria's Super Eagles have signaled their intent to dominate the continent. In a clinical display during the Nigeria vs Algeria 2026 AFCON Quarterfinal on January 10, 2026, the three-time champions secured a 2-0 victory, setting up a heavyweight semi-final clash with hosts Morocco.

Nigeria vs Algeria 2026 AFCON Quarterfinal: Osimhen's Impact

The deadlock was broken just two minutes after the interval when Victor Osimhen converted a cross from Bruno Onyemaechi. Algeria's goalkeeper Luca Zidane will want to forget this one quickly; his misjudged leap gifted Osimhen an easy finish. It's clear that Nigeria's physicality and speed overwhelmed an Algerian side that looked fatigued after their grueling last-16 encounter.

Ten minutes later, the lead was doubled. Osimhen turned provider, unselfishly feeding Akor Adams, who showed great composure to round Zidane and slot into an empty net. Despite reports of bonus disputes behind the scenes, the Super Eagles played with a determination that hasn't been seen since their World Cup qualification disappointment.

VAR Controversy and Defensive Dominance

The match wasn't without drama. In the 29th minute, Calvin Bassey thought he'd opened the scoring when his effort appeared to cross the line before being hooked away. Despite television replays suggesting a goal, the lack of goal-line technology meant the VAR decision stood as no goal. However, Algeria failed to register a single scoring chance, highlighting Nigeria's defensive solidity.