The Super Eagles were left devastated after a stoppage time magical free kick goal by Riyad Mahrez denied them passage to the final of 2019 AFCON, but coach Gernot Rohr will still praise the team’s fight back in the second half.
Nigeria will now play the losers’ final against Tunisia on Wednesday.
“It was a wonderful game, but we lost and so we’re not happy,” he said in the post-match interview.
“We let in an own goal and Algeria were better in the first half, but we fought back in the second half.
“We made a better second half before that wonderful free kick goal against us.
“That is football.”
Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi praised the quality of the Nigerian team and admitted they struggled after the break due to fatigue from their quarterfinal against Cote d’Ivoire dragged into extra-time and a penalty shootout.
“We came up against a quality team and it was also tough because of our game against Cote d’Ivoire,” he said.
“We deserved to score more goals in the first half, but the second half was difficult as we were under pressure and played too deep.
“But after the penalty against us, we showed great attitude and mental strength to come back and score the winning goal.”
