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Strikers Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams grabbed second-half goals as Nigeria powered to a deserved 2-0 victory against Algeria in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final to set up a meeting with the hosts Morocco in the last four.
Osimhen steered home a long cross from the left by Bruno Onyemaechi two minutes into the second half as Algeria’s goalkeeper Luca Zidane made a bizarre jump to try to stop the effort but ended up getting his angles wrong and conceding an easy goal.
Adams increased Nigeria’s lead 10 minutes later as Osimhen unselfishly fed him the ball and he took it round Zidane before placing it into an empty net. It was an impressive performance by Nigeria, who missed out on World Cup qualification two months ago, as they overwhelmed their opponents from the start at the Grand Stade de Marrakech. Nigeria looked more determined, quicker around the field and stronger in the challenges, denying their opponents a single scoring chance.
Algeria were already hanging on grimly in the first half with Nigeria having good chances to be ahead at the break.
Algeria centre-back Ramy Bensebaini cleared off the line in the 29th minute from Calvin Bassey after the depth of Ademola Lookman’s free-kick was misjudged by Zidane and the Nigeria full-back was able to steer an effort goalward from a tight angle.
Bensebaini hooked it clear, although television replays appeared to show the whole circumference of the ball had crossed the line. A video assistant referee check in the absence of goalline technology, however, did not award a goal.
In the 37th minute, a poor clearance from Zidane to full-back Aissa Mandi was intercepted by Alex Iwobi who quickly fed the ball to Adams, but the Sevilla striker’s left-foot effort missed the target with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Adams also headed against the upright in the 82nd minute as Osimhen’s enterprise and persistence again set him up with a clear chance.
Algeria had been forced to play extra time before winning their last-16 clash against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday and the exertion could have been the reason many of their key players turned in listless performances. In contrast, Nigeria had a comfortable 4-0 win over Mozambique on Monday.
Nigeria, who have reached the last four 17 times in the last 20 tournaments they have qualified for, will take on Morocco in Rabat in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
Later on Saturday, Egypt play Côte d’Ivoire in Agadir to decide who will play Senegal in Wednesday’s first semi-final. Egypt topped their group comfortably but needed extra time to see off Benin, with Mohamed Salah adding gloss to a 3-1 win with a goal four minutes into added time as the opposition made a last desperate attempt to find an equaliser. Côte d’Ivoire, the holders, sealed first place in their group with an injury-time winner against Gabon but cruised through their last-16 tie, 2-0 up against Burkina Faso just after the half-hour mark with a third goal coming late on.
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This story will be updated
