MARRAKESH, Morocco — Despite the heartbreak of being knocked out in what he hinted would be his final AFCON appearance, Al-Ahli winger Riyad Mahrez showed immense sportsmanship, praising the depth and quality of the current Nigerian squad.
The Match: How Nigeria Soared
The quarter-final at the Grand Stade de Marrakech was a tale of two halves. After a tense, goalless first 45 minutes, Nigeria’s relentless attack finally broke through:
- The Breakthrough (47’): Just two minutes after the restart, Victor Osimhen rose highest to thunder home a cross from Bruno Onyemaechi. It was Osimhen’s fourth goal of the tournament, cementing his status as a Golden Boot contender.
- The Sealer (57’): Ten minutes later, Osimhen turned provider, slipping a perfect pass to Akor Adams, who rounded goalkeeper Luca Zidane and finished into an empty net to make it 2-0.
- The Stats: Nigeria dominated the proceedings with 12 shots (5 on target) compared to Algeria’s 2 (0 on target).
Mahrez’s Parting Words
Speaking to Naija Sports after the final whistle, the 2013 AFCON winner was reflective about his journey and the future of the tournament.
“I’m happy I was able to win one AFCON trophy for my country. It’s football, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose,” Mahrez said. “Maybe it will be the time for Nigeria to win. They have a good generation… It’s really difficult to win, but I think they have a good chance.”
The Road to the Final: A Blockbuster Semi-Final
Nigeria’s victory sets up a “Final before the Final” as they prepare to face the host nation.
- The Opponent: Morocco, who defeated Cameroon 2-0 on Friday.
- Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
- Venue: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat.
- The Stakes: This will be Nigeria’s record-extending 16th AFCON semi-final appearance. They are currently the only team in the 2025 tournament to have won all five of their matches so far.
