‘We’ve been cooked, roasted’ - Algerians confess after painful defeat to Nigeria Super Eagles

Algerians are in shock after Nigeria's Super Eagles delivered a savage masterclass on Saturday, dismantling Algeria 2-0 to storm into the semi-finals of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. 

The Grand Stade de Marrakech became a graveyard for the Desert Foxes, where Nigerian dominance was so total that even their fiercest rivals waved the white flag online. 

This wasn't just a win, it was a psychological demolition in one of Africa's hottest rivalries, propelling the three-time champions toward a blockbuster semi-final against hosts Morocco on Wednesday at Rabat's Crown Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

From the opening whistle, Nigeria asserted total control, pinning Algeria back with relentless waves of attacks. Goalkeeper Luka Zidane, on loan at the Desert Foxes, earned his stripes in the first half, denying Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen in a barrage that exposed Algeria's backline frailties.

 In the 7th minute, Osimhen danced down the right flank, his clever cut-back cleared off the line by Aissa Mandi, before the former Napoli star's header from the corner sailed just over.

Lookman terrorised the defence again in the 22nd minute, surging past markers on a pinpoint Alex Iwobi pass, only for Zidane to smother his shot. 

Three minutes later, Osimhen loomed large on another counter, but Zidane raced out to thwart him. Akor Adams nearly broke the deadlock in the 37th, latching onto a swift break but firing over with Zidane beaten, Algeria's luck teetering on a knife-edge at halftime.

The dam burst two minutes into the second half. Frank Onyeka intercepted, fed Adams, who linked with Iwobi, and Bruno Onyemaechi whipped in a perfect cross. 

Osimhen rose like a colossus, hanging in the air to power home his header, Nigeria's opener and a testament to their slick team interplay.

Seven minutes later, Onyemaechi's delivery found Osimhen again, whose header forced a Zidane miracle save. But relief was fleeting: in the 57th, Onyeka won the ball high, sparking a fluid move through Iwobi and Osimhen. 

The 2023 African Player of the Year unselfishly teed up Adams, who rounded Zidane and slotted coolly into the net for 2-0; the Sevilla striker's second AFCON goal and Nigeria's statement of intent.

Adams almost bagged a brace late on, his diving header from Osimhen's cross cannoning off the post in the 80th. Algeria, outshot 14-4 and clinging to scraps, couldn't respond as Nigeria's high press and clinical finishing sealed a deserved rout.

Algerian supporters, usually defiant, crumbled online in hilarious surrender. One fan lamented, “This goal from Nigeria was so good. Bensebaini nowhere to be seen again. We’ve been cooked. Roasted. Air fried. You name it.” 

Another admitted, “Algeria brought the best defence. Nigeria brought the attack that ends conversations. Two goals later, silence.” A third painted the picture: “Nigeria just turned the pitch into a five-star kitchen, and Bensebaini got lost in the smoke! That goal wasn’t just skill, it was a statement: timing, vision, execution all aligned, leaving the defender looking like a menu item rather than a man. Cooked, roasted, air fried.”

For Nigeria, this vindicates their resurgence under new coach Eric Chelle; for Algeria, it's back to the drawing board after another early exit.