Algeria vs Nigeria: The Super Eagles can win AFCON but it depends on Osimhen

Victor Osimhen showed why he is undroppable as he put in a masterclass to help Nigeria beat Algeria in their AFCON 2025 quarter-final clash on Saturday. 

There had been calls for Osimhen to be dropped following his conduct in Nigeria’s win over Mozambique, but the Galatasaray man showed why he remains the man if the Super Eagles are to win the trophy. 

Pulse Sports Managing Editor, Joba Ogunwale, takes a look at Osimhen’s performance and other talking points from the game. 

In fairness, Osayi-Samuel has had a very good tournament, but to many, he is not Ola Aina, who missed this competition due to an injury. 

However, while he might not be Aina, Samuel gave arguably his best performance in a Super Eagles jersey. The Birmingham City defender was solid defensively and offensively, putting in an incredible shift. 

He never gave Farès Chaïbi a sniff and was a constant threat going forward. His energy was unmatched, which explains why he made five recoveries.

The only thing missing from his game was an assist or a goal, but it was still a top performance from the ex-Fenerbahce man. 

Coming into the game, there were sections of Nigerian fans who wanted Osimhen dropped from the lineup. Not because he was not good enough, but because of his disgraceful conduct in the win over Mozambique. 

The Galatasaray man was unruly towards Lookman and Onyemaechi for not passing the ball to him. But while he was deservedly criticised, Osimhen showed that the Super Eagles cannot afford to drop him. 

He had a quiet first half, but took over in the second half, scoring the opener before unselfishly setting up Adams for the second. He could have been selfish for the second, but decided to lay it for the Sevilla man. 

It was not just the assist and the goal that set him apart, but his overall work rate. There was a moment in the game when he tried to lay it on the plate for Lookman, but his pass was intercepted. 

However, instead of letting the ball go, he hustled for the ball again, pulling a difficult cross for Adams, whose header hit the post. 

His performance in the game probably justifies why he was angry at his teammates for not passing to him, although he is still wrong for not applauding the fans after the game. 

Nonetheless, his performance against the Foxes showed again that the Super Eagles will only win this AFCON depending on Osimhen’s performance. 

Up next for the Super Eagles is a mouthwatering semifinal clash against hosts Morocco on Wednesday. While this will be the biggest test they will ever face, they should go into the match full of confidence. 

The match against Algeria showed why Nigeria should not fear the Atlas Lions, even though facing the hosts is a different kettle of fish. 

Nonetheless, they dominated the match from start to finish in a hostile environment, and that should serve them well when they go up against the host nation. 

Aside from that, the Super Eagles have been clearly the best team in this competition. They are yet to concede first and have dispatched teams with ease. 

Algeria was supposed to be a difficult match for the team, but they made the two-time African champions look like minnows. 

Eric Chelle has built a team capable of beating any opposition in this competition. They press like mad dogs and play through the opposition’s defence with ease. 

In contrast, Morocco have not really been convincing despite the backing of the home crowd. 

At this point, we are running out of superlatives to describe Alex Iwobi’s performance. The Fulham midfielder was again at his best today, controlling the play in the midfield. 

His performance ensured that Nigeria won the midfield battle, showing why he has been one of the best players in this competition. 

The former Arsenal star hardly put a foot wrong every time he touched the ball. His play was vital to Nigeria’s second goal, even though he was not credited with an assist. 

Just like in the game against Mozambique, Iwobi’s line-breaking passes were a problem, playing a crucial role in the second goal against Algeria. 

His through ball set Osimhen on goal before the former Napoli man unselfishly laid it on the plate for Adams.