Algeria vs. Nigeria score: AFCON quarterfinal result, stats as Super Eagles dominate to seal spot in semis

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• Algeria vs. Nigeria final score
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Despite failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria have booked their place among the final four of the Africa Cup of Nations, as the Super Eagles overwhelmed 2019 champions Algeria with a 2-0 quarterfinal victory.

Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams scored shortly after halftime to seal the win, as Nigeria dominated the match from start to finish. In truth, the Super Eagles should have had more, but they were wasteful throughout the first half, and Adams missed a wide-open chance to extend the lead late.

Algeria were completely outplayed in midfield, repeatedly turning the ball over while attempting to build possession. Star forward Riyad Mahrez was a nonfactor, while the Fennec Foxes picked up five yellow cards, mostly out of frustration.

Nigeria will need to be more clinical if they are to lift their first AFCON title since 2013, but that can wait. The Super Eagles have secured a semifinal matchup with host Morocco on Jan. 14.

1 - Nigeria at #AFCON2025

💯Only team to win all their games (5/5)
⚽️Best goal difference (+10)

Soaring. Pic.twitter.com/3P8KTi7838

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 10, 2026

Algeria vs. Nigeria final score

Venue: Stade de Marrakech (Marrakesh, Morocco)
Referee: Issa Sy (SEN)

Starting lineups:

Algeria (4-3-3, right to left): 23. Zidane (GK) — 25. Belghali, 2. Mandi, 21. Bensebaini, 15. Ait-Nouri — 14. Boudaoui (Abdelli, 81'), 6. Zerrouki (Bounedjah, 60'), 17. Chaibi — 7. Mahrez (Hadj Moussa, 60'), 22. Maza (Boulbina, 60'), 18. Amoura (Berkane, 81').

Nigeria (4-3-1-2, right to left): 23. Nwabali (GK) — 2. Osayi-Samuel (Ogbu, 90'), 6. Ajayi, 21. Bassey, 13. Onyemaechi — 8. Onyeka (Simon, 67'), 4. Ndidi (Onyedika, 67'), 17. Iwobi — 7. Lookman (Dele-Bashiru, 87') — 9. Osimhen, 22. Adams (Awaziem, 87').

Nigeria vs. Algeria stats

Algeria vs. Nigeria live updates, highlights, and commentary

FULLTIME: Algeria 0-2 Nigeria

A completely dominant performance from Nigeria as they advance to the semifinals! It's their 16th semifinal visit all-time and a second in a row, after finishing second in 2023.

There's a big post-match scuffle, as Algeria players are seeing the red mist. First they go after their opponents, and then start hurling insults at the officiating crew, who to their credit had a wonderful match. Shameful that Algeria are placing any blame here on the referees, as they were beaten plain and simply.

🚨 Grosse altercation entre les joueurs algériens et les arbitres puis les joueurs du Nigeria.

Luca Zidane dans une colère noire! Pic.twitter.com/vcf4gy8gDI

— Hanif Ben Berkane (@HanifBerkane) January 10, 2026

Disgraceful behaviour from Algeria’s players and coaching staff towards the officials as they follow them off the pitch and hurl insults @TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/jwPDny9bpI

— Jay Harris (@jaydmharris) January 10, 2026

90+9 min: Things are boiling over on the touchline as a little bit of pushing and shoving escalates into a full-on coming-together of both squads. Just unnecessary in the end, and the referee shows a yellow card to someone seemingly on the touchline.

Surely the final whistle should be coming soon...

90+4 min: As six minutes of stoppage time progresses, Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali needs some treatment as he's clattered by Redouane Berkane while releasing a long ball. Bright Osayi-Samuel is also cramping up and is replaced by Igoh Ogbu, while Victor Osimhen takes the armband.

87th min: Two changes for Nigeria as Akor Adams and Ademola Lookman are replaced by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Chidozie Awaziem.

Stanley Nwabali is booked for time wasting. He won't care.

81st min: Chance, Nigeria! HOW HAS AKOR ADAMS NOT SCORED?!?!?! What a miss!

He gets the ball at the far post on a cross from the right, and with Luca Zidane failing to get his body across goal, Adams has half the net wide open to head the ball into! Somehow, he hits the post with his effort, and the rebound is out of reach!

Two more changes for Algeria as Himad Abdelli and Redouane Berkane both enter in place of Hicham Boudaoui and Mohamed Amoura.

75th min: Hicham Boudaoui is the fifth Algeria player shown a yellow card for a foul from behind on Ademola Lookman in midfield. More frustration as Boudaoui was out of control.

67th min: Algeria are getting frustrated. Anis Hadj Moussa is shown a yellow card for a hard foul on the touchline.

Raphael Onyedika finally enters for the injured Wilfried Ndidi, while Moses Simon also comes on to replace Frank Onyeka.

65th min: The attacking changes have helped Algeria, who are now the team with the greater impetus, but Nigeria are defending extremely well. Bright Osayi-Samuel does well to track back and slide to put the ball out of play before a dangerous cross can be played at the top corner of the penalty area.

In the aftermath, treatment is needed for captain Wilfried Ndidi who appears to be forced off and needs a change. He's booked for taking too long to exit the pitch even though he's clearly struggling with an injury...

62nd min: Rayan Ait Nouri is the third Algerian booked as he shoves Bright Osayi-Samuel after the play. Algeria are upset as they believe a hard tackle on the end line deserved a point to the spot, but the Senegalese referee says no penalty. The scuffle is quickly broken up.

60th min: Wholesale changes for Algeria as Riyad Mahrez is one of three withdrawn, replaced by Anis Hadj Moussa. Also off are Maza and Zerrouki, with Baghdad Bounedjah and Adli Boulbina coming on.

57th min: GOAL! NIGERIA! THE SUPER EAGLES ARE NOW TWO GOALS UP! IT'S AKOR ADAMS TO FINISH THE CHANCE!

Alex Iwobi feeds it forward for Victor Osimhen who has a chance himself, but instead he's unselfish and lays it off for Adams. He's all alone with only the goalkeeper to beat, and as Luca Zidane comes out to contest, Adams needs just one touch to go around him and then tap the ball into the open net!

What an attacking performance by Nigeria this has been!

47th min: GOAL! NIGERIA! VICTOR OSIMHEN HAS ARRIVED JUST MINUTES AFTER THE SECOND HALF RESTART!

The Nigeria talisman goes flying high to meet Bruno Onyemaechi's cross and thumps the ball down into the ground and into the back of the net! It's a clever finish from the Galatasaray striker, as the goalkeeper had tracked across and jumped to block the effort at the near post, and Osimhen outfoxed him with the downward trajectory of the header!

2nd half kickoff: They're back under way for the second half as the ball is rolling once again in Marrakesh. Will Nigeria keep their superiority and make good on that, or will they rue their failure to snatch a lead when they had the chance?

HALFTIME: Algeria 0-0 Nigeria

Nigeria have completely dominated this match so far, but have nothing to show for it as three minutes of added time come and go without any notable event.

Algeria were completely overwhelmed in midfield, putting themselves under real pressure on multiple occasions, but the heroics of Ramy Bensebaini on two occasions have kept Nigeria from taking the lead.

Eric Chelle will be pleased with the overall proceedings, but will know his side may have let their chance to snatch this game by the horns go begging.

29th min: Chance, Nigeria! Another last-gasp intervention by Ramy Bensebaini to keep out the Super Eagles!! Calvin Bassey meets a free-kick at the back post and pokes it past the diving goalkeeper, but right as the ball met the goal line, Bensebaini comes sliding across to clear the effort!

A long VAR check ensues to make sure the ball did not go over the line, and it's VERY close, but the call of no goal was correctly upheld! What a job by the Algeria defender! Nigeria are so unlucky not to be in front!

28th min: Another yellow card is shown to an Algeria player, this time to Mohamed Amoura who comes through very late on Bright Osayi-Samuel after releasing the ball.

27th min: Chance, Nigeria! The Super Eagles come close again, as Victor Osimhen is clean through on goal, but can't get the shot off before a brilliant tackle from Rayan Ait Nouri dispossesses the Nigeria star!!! What a wonderful and necessary intervention!

Multiple Nigeria opportunities thus far have come from very bad midfield giveaways by Algeria, who haven't handled the Nigeria press well at all.

21st min: Nigeria pick up their first yellow card as Bruno Onyemaechi is booked for a foul in transition. Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic has been working the officials hard on the touchline and is pleading for more, but on this occasion that's not remotely close to being a red card.

15th min: The first yellow card is shown to Ramiz Zerrouki who fouls Ademola Lookman very hard in midfield. Zerrouki is furious with the decision, but he's got very little leg to stand on after that over-aggressive foul.

9th min: Chance, Nigeria! Frank Onyeka meets a cross on the volley at the back post, but it's blocked by Ramy Bensebaini before it can tuck inside the far post! It's an acrobatic effort, as Onyeka lept high into the air and met his foot to the ball, and while it looked as if the effort had beaten the goalkeeper, Bensebaini was there to keep it out!

The Super Eagles are pushing for the first goal, but it remains scoreless!

8th min: Chance, Nigeria! Victor Osimhen rises high to meet a corner for Nigeria, but he puts the headed effort over the crossbar!

4th min: This match has been physical to start, highlighted by a push from a Nigeria player on the touchline that sends an opponent flying into the assistant referee, toppling the official. All involved rise without any notable bumps or bruises to shake off the moment.

Kickoff: They're under way in Marrakesh! Zinedine Zidane is in the house to watch his son start in goal for Algeria.

Algeria vs. Nigeria: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

30 mins to kickoff: The Africa Cup of Nations always brings the vibes, and the Nigeria national team is at the forefront of the hype in this tournament. Look at their excitement at arriving for today's match!

By now, you already know the sound. The Super Eagles are here. 🦅#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | #WeSoundDifferent pic.twitter.com/bBnYgt16SZ

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 10, 2026

45 mins to kickoff: These two teams faced off in the semifinals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, with Riyad Mahrez's free-kick in the 95th minute gave Algeria a stunning 2-1 victory and a place in the final, where they'd go on to beat Senegal and win the title.

A historic moment from 2019. Riyad’s late free-kick sending Algeria to the final.

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. 🇩🇿🇳🇬#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | @1xBet_Eng pic.twitter.com/dRSPib1YRv

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 10, 2026

1 hour to kickoff: The lineups are in. For Nigeria, there are no surprises at all as the Super Eagles go with their best XI established throughout this tournament and an unchanged side from the 4-0 throttling of Mozambique in the Round of 16.

Same too for Algeria, who make just one change from their win over DR Congo last round as they're forced into a midfield swap with Ismael Bennacer coming out injured and replaced by Ramiz Zerrouki.

Dressing rooms ready for both Gerias. 🇩🇿🇳🇬#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/2yPAog3ZQ6

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 10, 2026

1 hour 30 mins to kick: The winner of this match will face hosts Morocco in the semifinals, after they defeated Cameroon 2-0 back on Friday. It presents a very difficult match, but you'd expect such a tough test in the final four of the Africa Cup of Nations!

Morocco's Brahim Diaz has scored in every single match of the competition so far, leading AFCON in scoring so far.

Morocco have punched their ticket to the AFCON 2025 semi-finals by beating Cameroon 2-0 in Rabat 🇲🇦

Brahim Diaz opened the scoring for the tournament hosts with his fifth goal of the tournament before Ismael Saibari doubled their lead with a great strike in the second half. Pic.twitter.com/5hH9UdZ7mn

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) January 9, 2026

2 hours before kickoff: We're at the quarterfinal stage of the AFCON, and we're down to the heavyweights. The eight remaining teams boast 22 Africa Cup of Nations titles between them.

Statement made. More to come.

Raphael Onyedika, Pape Gueye, and Marwan Attia. Your Players to Follow in the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 quarter-finals. 🌟@Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/49n094wI3J

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 8, 2026

Algeria vs. Nigeria kick off time

The match kicks off in Marrakech, Morocco, at 5 p.m. Local time.

Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories:

Algeria vs. Nigeria lineups, team news

Algeria have concerns over midfielder Ismael Bennacer, who was hurt in the last round against DR Congo. Ramiz Zerrouki is in line to start in his place.

Captain Riyad Mahrez and striker Ibrahim Maza have been Algeria's biggest weapons at these finals.

Algeria predicted starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Zidane (GK) — Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Ait-Nouri — Boudaoui, Zerrouki, Chaibi — Mahrez, Maza, Amoura

Nigeria will likely be unchanged from the emphatic win over Mozambique, both in terms of personnel and formation. Eric Chelle's 4-3-1-2 has given more freedom to Ademola Lookman in attack without sacrificing the stability in the side brought by midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka.

Nigeria starting XI (4-3-1-2 right to left): Nwabali (GK) — Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Onyemaechi — Onyeka, Ndidi, Iwobi — Lookman — Osimhen, Adams

Algeria vs. Nigeria live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world's major regions: