Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez believes Nigeria have enough quality to claim victory at the 2025 African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco.
The Super Eagles have now progressed to the semifinal of the tournament after they defeated Mahrez’s Desert Warriors 2-0 in their quarterfinal clash last Saturday.
The former Manchester City winger had netted the winner when his nation won in 2019 on their way to winning a second AFCON title, but was subdued this time around with no attempt on target.
“I’m happy I was able to win one AFCON trophy for my country. It’s football, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose”, Mahrez stated.
“Maybe it will be the time for Nigeria to win. They have a good generation.”
Nigeria have been very impressive so far in Morocco, winning all of their five matches in dominant fashion.
Against Algeria, they dominated the match from start to finish and limited their opponents to only three attempts in total and none on goal.
The Super Eagles led by the electric Victor Osimhen have scored 14 times at the tournament – the most of any team, and they have also improved defensively, keeping two clean sheets in their last two appearances having conceded in their first three matches.
Head coach Eric Chelle seems to have found the perfect pattern which has brought out the best in the team.
“But sometimes, you can have a good generation, but you don’t win. It’s really difficult to win, but I think they have a good chance”, the Al Ahli forward added.
Nigeria face host nation Morocco in their last four encounter on Wednesday night at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, knowing it will be a difficult encounter.
The Super Eagles lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast in the final two years ago, which was also their last meeting against a host country and will be eyeing a better display this time around as they continue their quest for a fourth AFCON crown.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
