Morocco 2025: Marrakech Set For a War Like No Other
Saturday’s third quarter-final of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations is certainly the pick of the last-8 clashes, as Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Fennecs of Algeria clash for the 23rd time at senior level, since their first encounter at the 2nd All-Africa Games in Lagos 55 years ago.
Games between both teams over the past five-and-half decades have been laced with thrills and frills, shocking scorelines, drama, end-game flips, stunning comebacks, awesome performances by star players, and a bit of infamy.
The encounter in Marrakech will be the 10th time that both countries will clash in African football’s biggest championship, with Nigeria having won only three of the previous nine duels. Algeria have won four, and the other two have ended in stalemates.
One stalemate was the infamous clash of Bouake in 1984, when both teams were suspected to have ‘reached an accord’ to play a scoreless draw in order for both teams to qualify to the semi-finals, and get Cup holders Ghana eliminated.
Nigeria defeated Algeria to win their first AFCON trophy on home soil in 1980, and 10 years later, Algeria defeated Nigeria to win their first AFCON on home soil!
Marrakechi, Morocco’s fourth largest city, is set to host a massive showdown that will create its own story as a chapter in the book of one of African football’s greatest rivalries.
FIFA World Cup Do-Me-I -Do-You
NIGERIA VS ALGERIA (10 October 1981): The highest-stakes confrontations between Nigeria and Algeria have been in FIFA World Cup qualifying series, starting with the shocking defeat of then reigning African champions Nigeria by the Fennecs in Lagos in October 1981.
Before the match, a couple of decisions by then NFA (including an increase in match ticket price) did not go down with the players. A couple of retired players were brought back to the team, creating discontent and disharmony. Algeria ran away with a 2-0 win, both goals scored in the first half.
ALGERIA VS NIGERIA (30 October 1981): In Constantine three weeks later, not much could be rescued. The Eagles lost 1-2 and crashed out of the race.
NIGERIA VS ALGERIA (03 July 1993): Visitors Algeria raced to an early lead through striker Abdelhafid Tasfaout, but Nigeria clawed their way back starting with Jay Jay Okocha’s free-kick, and an imperious Rashidi Yekini display, to win 4-1.
ALGERIA VS NIGERIA (08 Oct 1993): Algeria fought hard to stop Nigeria’s bid for a first-ever FIFA World Cup ticket, but failed. Finidi George’s first-half goal was enough for a 1-1 finish and Nigeria’s ticket to USA 1994 was assured.
NIGERIA VS ALGERIA (03 July 2004): Joseph Yobo rose above everyone else at the far post to score Nigeria’s only goal in Abuja in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
