Victor Osimhen delivered a dominant, match‑defining performance as Nigeria beat Algeria 2–0 to reach the AFCON 2025 semifinals, earning the Man of the Match award for his efforts.
In a tense quarterfinal that was cagey for most of the first half, Osimhen’s relentless movement and physical presence constantly troubled the Algerian back line, even before the breakthrough arrived.
Right after the interval, the Nigerian star rose above everyone to power a header past Luca Zidane from a pinpoint cross by Bruno Onyemaechi in the 47th minute, netting his fourth goal of the tournament and breaking the game open. That strike shifted all the momentum Nigeria’s way and forced Algeria to chase the match.
Osimhen then turned creator ten minutes later, timing his pass perfectly to release Akor Adams in behind the defense for the second goal, effectively killing off the contest at 2–0.
With Algeria unable to find a way back against a solid Nigerian defense, Osimhen’s blend of goalscoring, link‑up play and leadership stood out, justifying his Man of the Match prize as the Super Eagles booked a last‑four showdown with hosts Morocco.
