By Kunle Solaja, Casablanca

Calm has returned to the Super Eagles camp following the brief storm that trailed Nigeria’s emphatic Round of 16 victory over Mozambique, as attention now firmly shifts to Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash with Algeria.

With internal issues resolved, Nigeria’s attacking trident of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and in-form newcomer Akor Adams are brimming with confidence and motivation ahead of the showdown against the 1990 and 2019 champions.

Osimhen and Lookman, Nigeria’s twin terrors, were central to the Super Eagles’ runner-up finish at the last AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire two years ago and have again underlined their importance at this tournament.

Both forwards have scored three goals apiece so far, with Lookman also providing five assists, while Osimhen has added one. Adams, meanwhile, is buoyed by his maiden AFCON goal against Mozambique and the encouraging recovery of his mother, factors that have further sharpened his focus.

Despite Nigeria’s attacking firepower, the Super Eagles are under no illusions about the threat posed by the Fennecs, who boast a deep pool of proven match-winners capable of producing decisive moments when least expected.

Veteran striker Baghdad Bounedjah, scorer of the lone goal in Algeria’s 2019 final triumph over Senegal in Cairo, remains one of the most lethal forwards in the nation’s history.

Captain Riyad Mahrez continues to deliver with ruthless efficiency, drawing comparisons with past Algerian greats such as Rabah Madjer, Lakhdar Belloumi and Abdelhafid Tasfaout.

Midfielder Ismael Bennacer adds guile and control, while defender Ramy Bensebaini remains a familiar threat, having scored the winner when Algeria edged Nigeria in a friendly in Austria in October 2020.

Rising talents Adil Boulbina, Ibrahim Maza, Hicham Boudaoui and AnisHadj-Moussa further underline the depth of the North Africans’ squad.

Nonetheless, Nigeria have looked composed and purposeful throughout the championship, playing with grit, pride and cohesion. Captain Wilfred Ndidi has anchored the midfield with authority, while Alex Iwobi has added creativity and energy in the engine room.

Osimhen’s brace against Mozambique moved him within three goals of Nigeria’s all-time record of 37 international goals, while Lookman now has six AFCON goals to his name, having also scored twice against Cameroon and once against Angola in the knockout stages of the previous edition. Both forwards will be eager to extend their tallies.

Striker Paul Onuachu is also pushing for a role after his group-stage strike against Uganda became Nigeria’s 150th AFCON goal, adding further depth to the Super Eagles’ attacking options.

The winner of Saturday’s encounter will advance to face the victor of the other semi-final between Cameroon and Morocco, scheduled for Friday in Rabat.

With distractions firmly behind them, Nigeria head into the quarter-final focused, united and determined — intent on letting their football do the talking.

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By Kunle Solaja, Casablanca

As hosts, Morocco prepare to host Cameroon in Friday’s quarter-final of the Africa Cup of Nations, history offers a cautionary tale for the Atlas Lions.

Over the decades, Cameroon have developed a reputation as a recurring nightmare for host nations at the AFCON, repeatedly ending the dreams of countries staging the tournament — including Morocco themselves.

The trend dates back to 1984, when Cameroon defeated hosts Côte d’Ivoire 2–0 on the final day of Group A, pushing the Ivorians into third place and eliminating them from the competition. Four years later, Morocco experienced the heartbreak first-hand. Hosting the 1988 edition, the Atlas Lions were knocked out in the semi-finals by Cameroon, courtesy of a late 78th-minute strike from Cyrille Makanaky.

In 1992, Cameroon struck again, eliminating hosts Senegal with an 89th-minute winner scored by Ernest Ebongué. The pattern continued in 2000, when Cameroon denied co-hosts Nigeria a place in the final, winning on penalties after a dramatic 2–2 draw in regulation and extra time. Earlier in that tournament, the Indomitable Lions had also held the other co-hosts, Ghana, to a 1–1 draw in the opening match.

Cameroon’s dominance over hosts was further reinforced in 2002, when they swept aside Mali 3–0 in the semi-finals en route to lifting their fourth AFCON title. Six years later, in Ghana, the Indomitable Lions once again halted the hosts’ ambitions, edging the Black Stars 1–0 to block their path to the final.

Even at the group stage, Cameroon have not spared host nations. In 2017, they held Gabon to a goalless draw, a result that contributed to the hosts’ early elimination.

Notably, in almost every edition where Cameroon eliminated or denied the host nation, they went on to win the AFCON title, reinforcing their fearsome reputation on enemy territory.

The only hosts to escape Cameroon’s grip were Egypt in 1986. Even then, the final was a titanic contest, ending scoreless before Egypt prevailed 5–4 on penalties.

As Morocco step onto the quarter-final stage, they do so with history looming large. Against Cameroon, the hosts will be seeking not only victory, but also release from a long-standing AFCON pattern that has rarely favoured those playing at home.

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By Kunle Solaja, Casablanca

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has produced a rare statistical milestone, with all eight quarter-finalists drawn exclusively from the continent’s top-ranked teams, underlining the dominance of Africa’s traditional football powers at the tournament.

For the first time in more than 30 years, every team that has reached the last eight of the AFCON is ranked inside the top 10 of the FIFA rankings. The development highlights a competition largely free of major upsets, as pre-tournament favourites have justified their status on the pitch.

Leading the quarter-final cast are hosts Morocco, ranked number one in Africa, followed by defending champions Senegal in second place. Algeria (third) and Egypt (fourth) have also progressed, continuing their strong continental pedigree.

Completing the quarter-final lineup are Nigeria, ranked fifth, reigning champions Côte d’Ivoire in seventh place, Mali, ranked eighth, and Cameroon, tenth in the standings.

The absence of shock eliminations marks a clear departure from the tournament’s long-standing reputation for unpredictability, where lower-ranked teams often disrupt the established order. Instead, Africa Cup of Nations 2025 has been characterised by consistency, structure and tactical discipline, with heavyweight nations efficiently navigating the group and knockout stages.

Analysts say the trend reflects the narrowing gap in preparation between Africa’s elite teams and the rest of the field, as well as the growing emphasis on squad depth, game management and tournament experience.

With only top-tier teams remaining, the quarter-final stage is expected to deliver high-intensity encounters, as Africa’s best-ranked sides battle for a place in the semi-finals and the chance to lift the continent’s most coveted football prize.

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