Osimhen and Adams on target as Nigeria beat Algeria to reach the semi-finals of the AFCON

Nigeria secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Algeria in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations at Grand Stade de Marrakech on Saturday evening.

Semi Ajayi had the chance to open the scoring in the first minute of the game, but his headed effort from Ademola Lookman’s free-kick went over the bar.

Moments later, Victor Osimhen was the next to test Luca Zidane from a corner, but he also headed wide.

Nigeria continued to press hard, and Lookman had the chance to give the Super Eagles the lead in the 22nd after a mistake from Ramy Bensebaini, but the Atalanta man hit his effort straight at Zidane.

At the half-hour mark, Calvin Bassey thought he had given Nigeria the lead after he volleyed Lookman’s cross at the back post, but an onrushing Bensebaini made a last-ditch clearance to deny the Fulham defender.

Minutes later, Akor Adams was presented with a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock after he was released by Alex Iwobi, but the Sevilla striker curled his effort just wide of the post.

Nigeria continued to mount pressure on the Desert Foxes’ defence but couldn’t get the breakthrough before the break.

A minute after the restart, Osimhen broke the deadlock after he headed home a deep cross by Bruno Onyemaechi to give Nigeria the deserved lead.

10 minutes late, Adams doubled the Super Eagles’ advantage when Iwobi and Osimhen teed up to set him through on goal, who then rounded Zidane and finished into an empty net.

Moments later, Onyemaechi sent in a cross from the left for Adams to meet, but his headed effort flashed over the bar.

At the other end, the Desert Foxes struggled to create any chance, and Baghdad Bounedjah tried his luck from a distance, but his long-range effort sailed well over Stanley Nwabali’s bar.

In the 81st minute, Adams almost doubled his tally, increasing the deficit after Osimhen worked his way into the area and delivered a cross to the back post, but the 25-year-old hit the base of the post with a header.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face the host nation Morocco in the semifinals on Wednesday for a place in the final of the AFCON.