By Kunle Solaja, Marrakech

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle expressed pride and satisfaction after the Super Eagles’ 2–0 victory over Algeria national football team in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, describing the result as a reward for hard work, planning and belief in his football philosophy.

Speaking after the match, Chelle said the players were delighted with their performance and stressed that the win reflected the progress the team has made since he took charge.

“The Nigerian players are very happy, and I am extremely proud of them. We really enjoyed the match,” Chelle said. “I have worked a lot since taking over my role with the Nigerian national team; we put in a lot of effort during preparations. My vision has been implemented in the Nigerian team, and we must continue working in this manner.”

The coach insisted that the Super Eagles fully merited their place in the semi-finals after outplaying the North African side.

“The victory we achieved against Algeria was deserved. The match was fantastic, and I am very happy with the win,” he added.

Attention now shifts to a demanding semi-final clash against the hosts Morocco national football team, a fixture Chelle expects to test Nigeria both technically and mentally.

“After this match, we have another game, and we will prepare for it,” he said. “Morocco is a strong team, and there will be pressure in front of the host nation. The best team will win.”

Despite acknowledging the challenge ahead, Chelle welcomed the prospect of facing the tournament hosts, framing it as another opportunity for his side to measure their growth.

“I am proud that we will face Morocco, and I hope it will be a good match, with the best team winning,” he concluded.

Nigeria’s assured display against Algeria reinforced their credentials as one of the standout teams of the tournament and underlined Chelle’s growing influence as the Super Eagles continue their pursuit of continental success.

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By Kunle Solaja, Marrakech

As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations reaches its decisive phase, the numbers tell a compelling story of attacking ambition, tactical boldness and ruthless finishing. From fluid counter-attacks to sustained possession-based pressure, several teams have distinguished themselves as the competition’s most dangerous forces in front of goal.

At the head of the scoring charts are Nigeria, whose free-scoring run has yielded an impressive 14 goals. This is an indication of the Super Eagles’ growing confidence and balance across the front line.

On Saturday, they had a 2-0 win over Algeria to book a place in the semifinals. Nigeria’s output reflects not just individual brilliance, but collective efficiency.

Their goals spread across matches and scorers, making them one of the most unpredictable attacking sides in the tournament.

The least they have scored in a match is two, making the Nigerian attackers, goalkeepers’ nightmare. Even, Algeria’s goalkeeper, Luca Zidane, the son of the legendary Zinedane Zidane, who had conceded the goal, just one, before the quarterfinals, had to pick the ball twice from his own net.

Close behind Nigeria in the attacking prowess are Senegal with 11 goals. Again, like the Super Eagles, the Teranga Lions are reaffirming their status as one of Africa’s most complete teams.

 The former champions have combined power, pace and experience, striking with authority whenever space opens up, and reminding opponents that defensive lapses are swiftly punished.

A second tier of attacking contenders is led by Côte d’Ivoire and hosts Morocco, both on nine goals. Morocco’s goals have been crafted through structured buildup, intelligent movement and crowd-inspired urgency.

Algeria and South Africa, both already eliminated, follow closely with eight goals each, showcasing contrasting attacking identities. Algeria’s patient, technical approach has gradually worn down opponents, while South Africa’s pressing game and speed in wide areas have translated into consistent returns.

Further down the list, Tunisia (7 goals) and Cameroon (6 goals) have relied on moments of precision rather than volume, while DR Congo and Mozambique (5 goals apiece) have impressed with efficiency despite fewer chances.

At the lower end of the scoring table, teams such as Burkina Faso and Gabon (4 goals), Mali, Tanzania, Uganda (3 goals), and Angola, Benin, and Equatorial Guinea (2 goals) remain in search of greater attacking fluency, often undone by missed chances or conservative game management.

As AFCON 2025 heads toward its climax, history suggests that goals win matches — but balance wins titles.

For now, Nigeria and Senegal stand tallest among the tournament’s attacking elites, while the chasing pack will hope that sharper finishing at the business end can still redefine the narrative

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Egypt forward Mohamed Salah described the victory over defending champions Cote d’Ivoire as a “perfect win”, hailing his teammates after qualifying for the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.

Salah scored the third goal for Hossam Hassan’s side, as Egypt ended Ivory Coast’s reign with a narrow 3-2 triumph, with Liverpool’s talisman setting a new record by scoring against 11 different national teams at the AFCON.

Egypt will face Senegal on Wednesday in Tangier for a place in the final, in a repeat of the 2021 AFCON final.

“It was a perfect win, but as I said before, we are fighting for our country,” Salah told CAF’s media channel.

“Hopefully, we go through the next game as well. It’s against a tough opponent, but we will give our best. “We are fighting so hard, you can see the players, nobody is holding anything… We are just carrying on,” he added.

Salah equalled his manager Hassan’s AFCON tally, with each scoring 11 goals. He needs just one more goal to become Egypt’s all-time top scorer in the tournament alongside Hassan El-Shazly.

Salah, 33, said Egypt are not “100% the favourites” to win the title, with Nigeria, Morocco and Senegal all having players competing in European leagues.

“Most of our national team players play in the domestic league, it’s not to belittle them, but we are trying our best because we love our country,” he told beIN Sports.

“The game (against Senegal) will be difficult; they have a squad that plays at a high level in Europe, but I hope we can achieve victory.”

-Reuters

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