The defence may be the Achilles Heel of the Super Eagles of Nigeria against the Desert Warriors of Algeria as the old foes clash in the 2025 AFCON quarterfinals at Marrakesh at 5pm on Saturday.
Already the media is aglow setting agenda on who moves to the semifinal among the two football Trojans but a terse statement by the Algerian Captain Riyad Mahrez that “we know Nigeria very well” may have shown that the North Africans have been studying on and off field tactics to oust Nigeria, who are deemed to be potential winners of the tournament..
On current form, the defence of Algeria looks far better with three clean sheets (not conceding any goal in three matches) of the four matches played so far; conceding only one goal against Equatorial Guinea that were beaten 3-1; beating DR Congo by a lone goal; same margin with that of Burkina Faso while Sudan were trounced 3-0. Algeria scored eight goals and conceded just one.
Algeria may glory in their defence, but Nigeria are said to have the most lethal attack at the tournament, scoring in every match that portends danger for Algeria, coupled with the undisputable fact that Nigeria are the highest scoring team with 12 goals and the 4-0 whitewash of Mozambique is the highest goals scored in a single match. in Morocco
The mere fact that two Nigerians in Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen are in second bracket of top scorers with three goals along with Riyad Mahrez as well as Nigeria having the highest assist provider of 4 from Lookman followed by Sadio Mane with 3 and then three Nigerians with two assists from Akor Adams, Alex Iwobi and Sam Chukwueze shows that Nigeria may overwhelm Algeria that have only Hadj Moussa, who has two assists.
One man that will be at the stand to watch his 27-year-old son, Belaid, torment Nigeria whether as Goalkeeper or a player is former France captain legendary Zinedine Zidane.
From records, Nigeria and Algeria met nine times with each country winning three games each and the rest were drawn.
Nigeria supplied 12 of the 21 goals scored in all meetings which could be a scare that Nigeria are dangerous with goals which is the ultimate in football. They met at AFCON twice and each country won once.
The highest goals scored match is wonderful when Nigeria dubbed Algeria 5-2 in a match played at Stade Miloud Hadefi in a World Cup qualifier before 11,000 fans.
Obafemi Martins scored a penalty in the 20th minute and another goal in the 88th to make his brand back flips fantastic; John Utaka scored the second goal in the 42nd minute, before Yacef of Algeria scored in the 48th minute and Mansour Boutabout scored the second goal for Algeria in the 58th minute.
But then Christian Obodo had scored the fifth goal for Nigeria in the 81st minute, before Ref Abdel Hakim Shelmani of Libya blew off the match.
I sat in the commentary box on 22nd March 1980, when before 85,000 fans at the National Stadium, Lagos in Nigeria, the Eagles pecked the Algerians 3-0 in the final.
I was privileged to be in the VIP lobby at half time with some Journalist to interview Nigeria’s Executive President, Alhaji Aliyu Usman Shagari who smoked his cigarettes throughout the interview assuring that he will drink Fura da Nunu, an Hausa delicacy drink with the cup.
Nigeria were sure of victory that an Ankara Aso Ebi cloth was taken and I sewed Agbada with it.
Nigeria had beaten Morocco 1-0 in the semifinal when Algeria stopped Egypt via penalty 4-2 after playing 2-2 at full time.
While fans were still adjusting seats and journalists were shaking hands in the commentary box, Segun Odegbami scored in the second minute and made it a brace in the 42nd minute for the wooden clappers sound to pierce the air.
President Shagari brought his clapper to the stadium and was the Cheer Leader throughout. Mudashiru Babatunde Lawal put the icing on the cake in the 50th minute.
It is would have been wonderful to know how the living legends of the AFCON 80 for Nigeria Unstoppable Fidelis Owolabi, ‘Mathematical’ Segun Odegbami and ‘Chief Justice’ Adokiye Amasiemeka would feel on the Algeria versus Nigeria match in 2025.
There were challenges with the Eagles then I remember. It was psychological. Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amasiemeka dreamt they scored goals before the match and were garrulous about it even Goalkeeper Best Ogedegbe kept assuring no ball will beat him.
Nigeria’s coach, a Professor of Football named Otto Gloria, called in a sports psychologist to calm the nerves.
Today, the Super Eagles have two challenges in synergy (unity in the team) and money phobia which I know coach Eric Chelle will parry with wisdom.
Nigeria will seek to revenge the AFCON 2019 played in Egypt when Gambia Referee Bakary Gassama gave two Nigerian players red cards which helped Algeria to beat Nigeria in the semifinal played at Cairo International Stadium on 14th July.
The depletion helped Nigeria to be motivated to beat Tunisia 1-0 to claim the bronze.
Odion Ighalo, who is a television pundit of the 2025 AFCON, was the highest goal scorer with five goals in that tournament.
By Eniola Olatunji
