Key events
The match report is in.
That’s all from me today. Thank you for tuning in and I hope you have a lovely evening.
Full time: Algeria 0-2 Nigeria
It was a comfortable victory for Nigeria as they dominated the game from start to finish. Osimhen allayed any concerns about tension among the squad with a goal early in the second half before Adams put the game to bed. Algeria rarely threatened Nwabali in the Nigeria goal and will be disappointed with their performance. A semi-final between Morocco and Nigeria awaits!
90+6 min: There’s an altercation between the Algeria and Nigeria players as the game winds down. A yellow card is shown … I’m not quite sure who to.
90+5 min: Nigeria run down the clock with one more substitution. Igoh Ogbu is on for Osayi-Samuel.
90+3 min: Redouane Berkane closes down Nwabali. The Nigeria goalkeeper goes down under Berkane’s challenge and wastes some more time.
90 min: There will be six minutes of additional time.
85 min: Adams makes way for Chidozie Awaziem and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru replaces Lookman.
84 min: Nwabali is booked for time wasting. It’s reached that stage of the game.
81 min: Nigeria are through again. Osimhen is away on the right and tries to square the ball to the onrushing Lookman. Algeria cut his first effort out but Osimhen crosses again. Adams meets the ball on the full and hits the post with his header. That should have been a third goal.
79 min: Baghdad Bounedjah picks the ball up about 30 yards. With few options, he decides to smash a speculative effort over the bar.
78 min: Onyemaechi plays a fierce balls into the box. Adams meets it and loops his header over the bar.
76 min: Osimhen tracks back and wins the ball back for his team. He’s made a concerted effort to be a team player today.
72 min: Algeria give the ball away sloppily and Iwobi is free on the right. All of the attackers make the same run though and Algeria clear.
68 min: Raphael Onyedika comes on for Ndidi. Moses Simon replaces Onyeka.
65 min: Wilfred Ndidi is down with cramp. He departs and Nigeria are briefly down to 10 men.
64 min: Excellent defending from Bassey. The defender, who has now recovered, intercepts a through ball and keeps Algeria at bay.
59 min: Bassey is down with a knock. Meanwhile, Algeria make a triple change. Mahrez, Maza and Zerrouki are off for Bounedjah, Hadj Moussa and Boulbina. These are some interesting changes from Vladimir Petković.
GOAL! Algeria 0-2 Nigeria (Adams, 56)
What a goal! Iwobi plays another crucial role with his playmaking. The Fulham midfielder slides the ball through to Osimhen. As it looks like the striker is about take on the defender, he unselfishly squares the ball to Akor Adams, who rounds the keeper and kicks the ball into an empty net.
52 min: Great strength from Onyeka. The Nigeria midfielder forces his way through the middle and starts another attack for the Super Eagles.
49 min: Nigeria are not done yet. They slide it through to Osimhen again but it’s slightly out of the striker’s reach.
47 min: We have a game on our hands. Algeria can no longer sit back. They have to go for it.
GOAL! Algeria 0-1 Nigeria (Osimhen, 46)
A perfect start to the second half for Nigeria! Onyemaechi plays a cross deep into the Algeria box for Osimhen to attack. And attack it he does – he hangs in the air and heads the ball across goal past Zidane.
Second half
We are back under way. Can Algeria take advantage of Nigeria’s wastefulness?
A message from Justin Kavanagh:
“How strange that one of Zinedine Zidane’s son ended up using his hands to make a living in the family trade (his other three brothers are footballers too). Now, had it been Thierry Henry’s… Yes, I’m Irish, and no, I’m not still bitter. I’m just saying … as they say.”
On the ball – guess the footballer
While you wait for the second half, check out the The Guardian’s new daily football game, On the ball. It is now live in the app for both iOS and Android … so what are you waiting for?
Half-time: Algeria 0-0 Nigeria
Nigeria will be the happier team at the end of the first half. They have dominated the play with the goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali rarely troubled. Algeria will be relieved that they haven’t conceded, leaving them with a chance to hurt Nigeria on the counter attack.
45+2 min: Onyemaechi hits the resulting free kick straight at Zidane.
45+1 min: Lovely skill from Bright Osayu-Samuel on the right. He beats the Algeria defender with a stepover and is fouled in the process. This is a chance for Nigeria …
45 min: There will be three minutes of additional time.
40 min: Algeria fashion a rare attack. Aït-Nouri displays lovely skill on the left but misses the chance to cross the ball into the box. Nigeria regain possession.
36 min: How has he missed that? Aissa Mandi gives the ball away in his own half and Iwobi cuts it out. His interception finds Akor Adams. Bearing down on goal, the forward somehow blazes the ball over the bar.
3o min: There’s a check to see if Bassey’s shot crossed the line. A large part of it certainly did but it wasn’t enough to put Nigeria in front.
28 min: Did that cross the line? Nigeria whip in a free kick to Calvin Bassey at the back post. Bassey volleys it towards goal and it bounces across the line. The onrushing Bensebaini clears the ball off the line with a last ditch clearance.
25 min: Great tackle from Rayan Aït-Nouri. Iwobi slides a wonderful pass through to Lookman who finds Osimhen. Osimhen is through on goal but the Manchester City fullback Aït Nouri perfectly times his slide tackle to stop the Super Eagles striker.
22 min: Ramy Bensebaini carelessly gives the ball away with his free kick. Nigeria pounce as it reaches Ademola Lookman. The winger cuts in and smashes his shot straight at Luca Zidane.
2o min: Riyad Mahrez takes down the ball expertly on the right before Onyemaechi fouls him.
18 min: Alex Iwobi is playing in the quarterback role again today. He tries to play one of his defence splitting balls but his teammates aren’t on the same wavelength and he loses possession.
12 min: Algeria are getting a foothold in the game now. The midfield four string together a few passes neatly before the Nigeria defence cut it out.
9 min: There’s more early pressure from Nigeria. Frank Onyeka meets a cross on the volley but he struggles to hit it with any conviction. Algeria clear the ball off the line.
7 min: Nigeria have taken control of the early proceedings. They have another corner which Lookman duly delivers into the box. Osimhen meets it but the striker heads it well over the bar.
4 min: Bruno Onyemaechi links up well with Victor Osimhen on the left. Onyemaechi’s cross is too deep but Algeria head it out for a corner.
1 min: Nigeria win an early free kick. It’s whipped in to the back post but Semi Ajayi heads the ball over the bar.
Kick off
Here we go. Nigeria get us under way, kicking from left to right.
There teams are out and singing their national anthems. This is for a place in the semi-final against Morocco.
Nigeria were starting to click before Osimhen’s outburst. Osasu Obayiuwana wrote about the importance of Nigeria’s talisman.
Team news
Algeria XI: Zidane, Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Aït-Nouri, Boudaoui, Bennacer, Chaïbi, Mahrez, Maza, Amoura
Subs: Abdelli, Atal, Bakrar, Belaïd, Benbot, Berkane, Boulbina, Bounedjah, Dorval, Hadj Moussa, Kebbal, Mandréa, Zerrouki, Zorgane
Nigeria XI: Nwabali, Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Onyemaechi, Onyeka, Ndidi, Iwobi, Lookman, Adams, Osimhen
Subs: Akinsanmiro, Awaziem, Chukwueze, Dele-Bashiru, Ejuke, Lawal, Nnadi, Obasogie Ogbu, Onuachu, Onyedika, Sanusi, Simon, Usman, Uzoho
Preamble
Hello and welcome to minute-by-minute coverage of Algeria v Nigeria in the quarter-final of AFCON. Despite both teams’ 100% records in the tournament so far, the build up to this match has been mired in controversy.
Algeria beat DR Congo in the round of 16 with a last minute winner in extra time. In the celebrations of Adil Boulbina’s winner, fellow teammate Mohamed Amoura mimicked the stance of Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, a Congolese super fan who has been paying tribute to the first prime minister of the Democratic of Congo Patrice Lumumba and his statue in Kinshasa, before falling to the ground. Amoura subsequently apologised and the Algerian Football Association presented Mboladinga with an Algeria shirt with Lumumba’s name printed on the back.
Meanwhile, Nigeria beat Mozambique 4-0 in their round of 16 tie but analysis of that match was overshadowed by an argument between Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. Osimhen berated his teammate midway through the second half seemingly for failing to pass to him. Lookman, who has been one of the best players at the tournament, played down the incident. He said: “It’s just football.”
Speaking of which, we should be in for a brilliant game that will see Algeria’s resolute defence come up against Nigeria’s firepower up front. Kick off is at 4pm. “>Send me an email with your thoughts.
