On a cool Saturday in Marrakech, Nigeria found the moment and the margin that elite teams need in knockout football. The Super Eagles beat Algeria 2-0 to book a place in the AFCON 2025 semifinals. It was clear, it was deserved, and it was driven by Victor Osimhen, who scored the opener and then set up Akor Adams for the clincher. Next up is a huge semifinal against host nation Morocco in Rabat on Wednesday.

This quarterfinal had been billed as attack versus defense, and that script held true. Nigeria arrived as the tournament’s most dangerous attack, with 12 goals in four matches and fresh from a 4-0 Round of 16 win over Mozambique. Algeria came in unbeaten, with a back line that had allowed only one goal all tournament. Something had to give. Osimhen made sure it did.

Osimhen breaks Algeria’s wall in Marrakech

After a tense, tight first half, the game cracked open almost right after the restart. Nigeria pushed forward, Bruno Onyemaechi raced down the left and whipped in a teasing cross, and Osimhen attacked it like a man on a mission. His powerful, close-range header flew in for 1-0. As beIN SPORTS put it on the call, “It’s taken just a minute in the second half and they finally have something to show for all their dominance.”

The finish mattered, but the timing mattered even more. Algeria’s plan was to keep the game slow and safe, then strike late. The early second-half punch forced them to chase, and that played straight into Nigeria’s hands.

CAF’s live text captured the moment in simple terms: “Goal! Algeria 0, Nigeria 1. Victor Osimhen… a powerful header from very close range to the center of the goal. He was assisted by Bruno Onyemaechi’s cross.”

“Osimhen didn’t just score; he changed the whole mood of the match in one leap.”

Akor Adams seals a ruthless AFCON quarterfinal

About ten minutes after the opener, Nigeria struck again. A midfield turnover opened the field. Alex Iwobi, calm in the pocket, slipped a smart through ball into space for Osimhen. The striker could have gone for goal, but chose the team play. He squared unselfishly across the box for Akor Adams, who finished left-footed from the center of the area. Fast break. 2-0. Control.

The beIN SPORTS commentary matched the moment: “Super Eagles fly. And Adams couldn’t get that one wrong. 2-0. Wonderful football.” Another line told the story of Algeria’s day: their goalkeeper Luca Zidane “came into this one not having conceded a goal, has now conceded twice.”

Nigeria did not stop there. Adams nearly added another late on, rising for a header that smacked the post nine minutes from time. The score could have been heavier.

“That second goal was pure transition football: win it, find Iwobi, and let Osimhen and Adams run.”

Attack vs defense: the big AFCON 2025 clash goes Nigeria’s way

The numbers behind this matchup told a clear story before kick-off, and they explain the result now:

• Nigeria started the day as the tournament’s top scorers (12 in four games) and had just beaten Mozambique 4-0.
• Algeria had conceded only one goal across four matches and were unbeaten in AFCON 2025.
• Luca Zidane had not let in a goal in the competition until Nigeria hit twice here.

In the first half, Algeria had some early control of the ball, but Nigeria grew into the game quickly. The Super Eagles pressed higher, forced rushed clearances, and created better chances. The CAF live blog noted the pressure, saying the Algerian keeper was “very busy with lots of saves.” By halftime it was 0-0, but the trend was set.

Once Osimhen scored 60 seconds into the second half, the balance tilted. Algeria tried to push numbers forward, and that opened lanes for Iwobi’s passes and Osimhen’s running. The second goal was the best example: steal, pass, burst, and a cool finish from Adams.

What it means: Super Eagles set for Morocco test in Rabat

This win sends Nigeria back into the AFCON last four, a stage they know well. The Super Eagles are three-time champions, last lifting the trophy in 2013, and they were runners-up in the most recent edition. Different sources list this as either their 16th or 17th semifinal at the Africa Cup of Nations, so the exact historic count varies, but the picture is the same: Nigeria are a perennial force at this level.

Now comes the host nation. Morocco, playing in Rabat on Wednesday, will bring noise, energy, and ambition. Nigeria bring form, goals, and a striker in Osimhen who looks sharp and hungry. It is the kind of semifinal this tournament lives for.

“Morocco at home is a storm. Nigeria will need the same calm and the same cutting edge.”

Algeria’s journey: progress made, but not enough

There is still some pride for Algeria. After back-to-back group-stage exits following their 2019 title, they reached the quarterfinals here and stayed unbeaten until this game. Vladimir Petković’s side kept things tight all month. But against top-tier attacking sides, you need more. They struggled to create clear chances and, once behind, could not find a gear change.

In the end, Nigeria’s pressure and pace were too much. As one report put it, Nigeria’s superiority was clear across 90 minutes. Every Nigerian attack seemed to cause problems, and when the big chances arrived, Osimhen and Adams finished them.

Players who shaped the night

• Victor Osimhen: One goal (header) and one assist. He set the tone and made the key decisions in the box.
• Akor Adams: The match-sealer with a composed left-foot finish on the break; later hit the post.
• Alex Iwobi: The pass before the pass on the second goal, spotting the lane and sliding Osimhen through.
• Bruno Onyemaechi: Quality delivery on the opener; that cross begged to be finished.
• Luca Zidane: Beaten for the first time in the tournament and beaten twice on the day; still made several saves to keep Algeria in touch.

The bottom line

Nigeria did the hard work early, then finished the job with control. They showed why their attack is feared and why knockout football rewards teams who can turn pressure into points on the board. Algeria’s defense had been almost perfect in AFCON 2025; Osimhen and Adams broke it in two clear moves.

Now the Super Eagles fly to Rabat for a semifinal that promises fireworks. If Nigeria bring the same blend of patience, power, and precision, they will fancy their chances—even against the hosts.