Osimhen Powers Nigeria to AFCON Semis With Stellar Show

Nigeria's Super Eagles are soaring toward redemption at the Africa Cup of Nations, powered by a brilliant performance from their star striker Victor Osimhen in a 2-0 victory over Algeria on Saturday.

The 2023 African Player of the Year broke the deadlock just two minutes into the second half with a perfectly placed header in Marrakesh. He then turned provider, setting up teammate Akor Adams to seal the win before the hour mark and send Nigeria into the semifinals.

The victory means everything to a Nigerian squad still hurting from missing out on World Cup qualification. Now they're just two wins away from claiming their fourth continental championship, having finished as runners-up at the last AFCON in 2022.

Nigeria dominated from the opening whistle, weathering a hostile crowd of 32,452 fans who packed the stadium against the stunning backdrop of the Atlas Mountains to support Algeria. The Super Eagles created chance after chance in the first half but couldn't find the breakthrough until Osimhen's clinical finish changed everything.

The Galatasaray striker is heating up at exactly the right time. After going seven AFCON matches without a goal, Osimhen now has four goals in his last four games and is leading Nigeria's tournament-best attack with 14 total goals.

Adams grabbed his second goal in as many games thanks to Osimhen's unselfish play, rounding the goalkeeper after a perfect square pass. The Sevilla striker nearly added another when his header struck the post, but Nigeria's dominance was already complete.

Algeria's formidable attacking trio never found their rhythm, failing to register a single shot in the first half. The 2019 champions, who had beaten Nigeria on their way to that title, couldn't recreate the magic despite their impressive run to the quarterfinals.

Wednesday's semifinal in Rabat promises an even bigger challenge as Nigeria faces host nation Morocco. The atmosphere will be intense, but the Super Eagles have proven they can handle the pressure and silence hostile crowds.

Nigeria's redemption story continues to unfold beautifully in Morocco, transforming World Cup heartbreak into continental glory. With Osimhen firing on all cylinders and the team playing their best football of the tournament, the dream of lifting that fourth AFCON trophy is becoming more real with each match.