Victor Osimhen was named Man of the Match after producing an inspiring display to lead Nigeria to a 2–0 victory over Algeria and secure a place in the semi-finals of the AFCON 2025.
The Galatasaray striker had come under scrutiny following the Super Eagles previous match, where he was believed to have been involved in an on-field disagreement with teammate Ademola Lookman, sparking discussions about team harmony. However, Osimhen let his football do the talking against Algeria with a performance that proved decisive.
Nigeria dominated large spells of the first half, creating several chances through Osimhen, Semi Ajayi, Frank Onyeka and Lookman, while Calvin Bassey went closest when his effort was cleared off the line. Despite the pressure, the opening half ended goalless.
Just two minutes after the restart, Osimhen broke the deadlock by powering home a header to claim his fourth goal of the tournament and 35th international goal for Nigeria. Eleven minutes later, he turned provider, racing onto an Alex Iwobi through ball before selflessly squaring for Akor Adams, who rounded the goalkeeper and finished into an empty net.
The moment symbolised unity, as the team celebrated together, easing concerns about any internal issues within the squad.
Nigeria comfortably managed the remainder of the match, keeping back-to-back clean sheets and booking a place in their 16th AFCON semi-final, where they will now face host nation Morocco with a place in the final at stake.
Osimhen’s all-round display, marked by relentless pressing, aerial strength and decisive contributions, earned him the Man of the Match award and underlined his importance to Nigeria’s title challenge.
