Nigeria vs Algeria: Repeat of 2019 for Desert Foxes or Revenge for Super Eagles?

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face the Fennecs of Algeria in the quarter-final of AFCON 2025 at the Marrakesh stadium in Morroco, on Saturday.

It is a repeat of the round-of-16 tie at AFCON 2019, where Riyad Mahrez’s last-minute free-kick lifted the Foxes to a 2-1 victory that knocked the Eagles off their nest.

Just like in 2019, the Super Eagles have been the best team in Morocco, scoring at least two goals in every match.

They also scored three or more goals in their last three matches, and are the only nation to score four goals in a match with the 4-0 round of demolition of Mozambique.

Algeria, on the other hand, needed a 119th-minute goal to progress over DR Congo, but like Nigeria, they won all their group matches.

Strengths:

Nigeria’s strength lies in attack, while Algeria has the joint-best defence. The Super Eagles have scored 12 goals, with the on-form attacking players contributing nine, indicating a frontline performing at its peak.

They will face a defence that has conceded only once in Morocco, with three clean sheets, compared to Nigeria with one clean sheet. They also have a vibrant attack led by Mahrez, that has scored three goals in two matches. Algeria’s three goals have been against teams from Pot 3 and 4 of the AFCON draw, while they managed one goal against Burkina Faso, a nation in Pot 2. Nigeria however, scored three goals against Tunisia, a Pot 1 opponent, dominating for over an hour.

Both sides have met 22 times, and Algeria has the upper hand with 10 wins compared to nine for Nigeria. It is similar statistics in their nine AFCON meetings, Algeria with four wins to Nigeria’s three victories. Players to Watch: With three goals and four assists, Ademola Lookman will be expected to add to his AFCON collection. He will be playing alongside the lethal Victor Osimhen (3 AFCON ’25 goals), and Alex Iwobi will be expected to dictate midfield. While Mahrez is a player to watch for Algeria despite his ageing legs, the reliable duo of midfielder Ismaël Bennacer and defender Rayan Ait-Nouri will be expected to disrupt Nigeria’s midfield and attack respectively. Prediction: Nigeria to win 2-1.

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